Holiday activities can agitate those with dementia
Q: My widowed sister moved in with our mother a year ago. Mom has Alzheimer’s disease, and it became evident she could no longer safely live alone. Things were going very well until right after Thanksgiving. My sister started decorating for Christmas, and my mother became agitated and uncooperative. We have no idea what is causing…
Gratitude needed in challenging times
Q: My mother moved in with us a few years ago when my father passed away. My two adult children have returned home having both lost their jobs due to the pandemic. My daughter and son are not dealing well with all the changes in their lives, and my elderly mom is frustrated with their attitude…
Staying in contact with virtual visits
Q: My mother lives in an assisted living facility that currently has an outbreak of COVID-19. Previously, only outside visits were allowed, and now even those have been suspended due to the lockdown status. My mother knows people in the building are sick, but she still doesn’t seem to understand why I can’t visit her. She…
Tips for holiday shopping during the pandemic
Q: Due to my age and chronic health conditions, I have been extremely careful over the last nine months to avoid contracting COVID-19. I only go out when it is necessary, but with the holidays approaching, I don’t know how I’m going to get my gift shopping done. My children and grandchildren have agreed it would…
Weighing benefits, risks of COVID-19 vaccine
Question: My neighbors and I have been closely following news about the progress of a vaccine for COVID-19. We have differing viewpoints on whether we feel confident in getting vaccinated when it first becomes available. We are all in the “older adults” category, so we realize we are more at risk. How do we decide…
Finding Support and Community While Caregiving During COVID
Like so many others, Kate P. has watched as her mother’s health has deteriorated over the past couple of years. This summer, the situation worsened. Her mother, age 77, has been struggling with failing mental health, dementias, and falling. She has gotten lost and had accidents while driving. Kate lives in Rhode Island and works full-time while her mother lives alone in North Reading, Mass. Kate and her husband,…
Handling Thanksgiving safely during a pandemic
Q: Our family is in turmoil over making plans for Thanksgiving. Our adult children haven’t seen us in months, so they are anxious to get together. I have missed them, but I am not sure it would be wise for them to visit. My husband has several chronic conditions and is at a higher risk…
Caregiving in a Crisis: Caring for parents during the pandemic
Q: My elderly mother is a private pay resident at an upscale assisted living facility. While I understand the reasons for all the restrictions around visiting, this is very sad for me. My mother has become withdrawn and our relationship has suffered. I don’t think she understands the impact the pandemic is having on facilities…
Navigating Medicare Open Enrollment
Q: I have been receiving flyers almost daily from insurance companies promoting their Medicare plans. I usually toss them in the trash without even looking over the information. I have good insurance through my husband’s retirement benefits package, so why am I getting these? A: The Medicare Open Enrollment period is now through December 7….
Finding resources for LGBT seniors
Q: I am concerned about my older brother. He is a 70-year-old gay man whose partner died over a year ago. It was stressful enough when he was dealing with grief, and then the pandemic started. My brother lives in an apartment building, and while his neighbors are friendly, he doesn’t feel any real connection…
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