Q: My 95-year-old grandmother resides in a long-term care facility that is scheduled to get the first round of COVID vaccinations in the next two weeks. My parents, both in their middle 70s, live at home and aren't sure when they will get vaccinated. Does this mean I...
Q: My father passed away this past winter after a long illness. I miss him every day. My mother seems to be stuck in the grieving process and withdraws from other family members and friends. Is this normal? What can we do to help? A: The experience of grief differs...
Q: I plan to make a trip back to the area after the holidays to visit my elderly parents. I realize traveling is not recommended now, but I feel a need to check on them. My mother hasn't sounded like herself during our calls, and my father doesn't always want to be on...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...