Family & Relationships

Dementia caregiver Michele DeSocio shares a heartwarming Mother's Day letter to her mom.

If you have a friend who is chronically ill, it’s important to understand that their health is just one factor in your relationship. By keeping their illness in the proper perspective, this friendship can be rewarding for and meaningful to both of you.

When a wife comes down with a serious illness (such as cancer or heart disease) even longtime couples are more likely to divorce, a new study reveals.

I recently experienced a 6.0 earthquake while staying at my daughter's house. The experience showed me that Alzheimer's and earthquakes have a lot in common.

Rather than avoid the issues of getting older when talking to aging family members, it's important to know how to ease into conversations about aging.

Dementia undoubtedly alters relationships, but it does not completely erase them. There is new research that uncovers a truth many Alzheimer's caregivers have always known: just because a person can't remember doesn't meant they can't feel. In fact, the more impaired a person's memory of a specific event is, the stronger their feelings, both positive and negative, about that experience will be.

The Alzheimer's Buddy Program allows patients and medical students to bond with and educate each other.

Can a caregiver "thrive" while looking after an aging loved one? Two psychologists weigh in on the benefits of the right relationships.

Recently, things have been slipping out of my mouth that are better left unsaid. I am asking myself if we all lose our filter as we age—the filter that keeps hurtful things from coming out at unexpected times.

Many people do not take the time to listen carefully to one another, and for this reason, hurt feelings and misunderstandings abound. Caregivers can avoid these challenges by listening at a deeper level and encouraging others to do the same.

Here’s why I think caregivers are some of the most courageous people out there.

Dementia is so devastating and divisive that it can be hard to maintain a loving attitude towards a family member with the disease. Discover how to reconnect with a loved one.

Placing mom in a nursing home—something we never thought we would consider—was not what we feared it to be.

New research shows that unhelpful stepfamily members can increase caregiver stress astronomically. Here are some tips for keeping the peace during difficult discussions.

I've been reflecting on how Alzheimer's might affect my future--especially my relationship with my wife and loved ones.

We all make mistakes, but Alzheimer's can cause some embarrassing mishaps. In some ways, Alzheimer's is forcing me to let go of perfectionism.

Every family experiences disagreements from time to time. Get everyone on the same page by using these steps for healthy communication and cooperation.

How do you respect an elderly loved one who has dementia? Start by remembering why you love and respect them.

My grandchildren have adopted a refreshing way of handling the effects of their grandfather's Alzheimer's disease.

As a former physician, I treasured my intellect and always thought that an Alzheimer's diagnosis would be one of the worst things that could happen to me. Now I'm being forced to face my greatest fear.