The Space Between
Caregiving insights from an emergency medicine physician Fact checked by Jim Lacy There is a moment I see during almost every shift in the emergency department — quiet but unmistakable once you recognize it. A phone buzzes at the bedside. A glance at the time. A calculation begins. School lets out in an hour. I […]
Illinois Caregivers Speak Out in Springfield
Chicago-area home care workers rally in Springfield for wage increase, worker shortages concerns Maria Arenas started her career in home care shortly after seeing the senior care system fail her own mother. “My mom went to a care home, and there were so many issues,” Arenas says. “They didn’t have enough staff. I would visit […]
New Caregiver Helpline
Peer-to-peer service supports family caregivers facing a loved one’s mental illness Jessica Sabatini remembers the emotional upheaval her family faced when her brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago. Today, she draws on that experience to support others through a new caregiver-to-caregiver helpline specifically for people caring for a loved one with mental illness. […]
Silent Strain
What to look out for and how to support caregivers at risk of isolation Fact checked by Jim Lacy The tragic deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist and businesswoman Betsy Arakawa, have left the nation with a sobering glimpse into caregiving’s silent strain. Autopsy reports show Arakawa, Hackman’s sole caregiver, […]
Dementia in Dollars
Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224 billion in unpaid care By Amy Lastuka, University of Washington About 5.5 million Americans live with dementia, requiring $53 billion in annual medical spending on doctor visits, hospitalizations, medications, home health aides, and nursing homes. But the true cost of dementia care in the […]
Sponsored Content: Caregiver Grants
Artist focuses on herself, healing in Yosemite thanks to a Road Scholar Caregiver Grant For generations, artists have been drawn to Yosemite National Park for its incredible natural beauty and spectacular vistas like Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome. With sparkling waters, inspiring mountains, and a host of wildlife that calls this park home, it’s no […]
Finding Balance
When responding to caregiving’s varied and layered needs, achieving equilibrium means more than standing upright Fact checked by Shannon Sparks For caregivers, finding balance is about navigating social connection, emotional support, and physical functionality — all through the upheaval of disease or dying. For this issue, we invited three writers to explore how balance […]
Influencing Outcomes
Photo: Self-care, although often neglected by caregivers, is critical when looking after a loved one. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images Family caregivers can help shape the outcomes for their loved ones – an ICU nurse explains their vital role By Courtney Graetzer, Vanderbilt University The floor nurse had just told me that my new patient […]
Over the Threshold: Women and Homelessness
Women now make up a larger portion of unhoused Americans — and their role as caregivers plays a part in that risk This is part 2 in a 4-part series on older adults and homelessness. Read part 1 about the current state of unhoused older adults in the U.S. here. Part 3 explores how street […]
Assisted Living and Addiction
Tips for navigating assisted living options when your loved one has addiction About 1 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. have a substance use disorder, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The majority of that addiction (around 65%) involves alcohol. But other types of addiction are on the rise among […]