Caregiver Resources

DEAR CARALLEL: I’m 71 years old, have never been married and I don’t have any children. My sister lives in Rhode Island and while we have a good relationship, we don’t see each other much. Maybe once every few years. I heard the phrase “Solo Ager” recently and it gave me a chuckle because I guess … I love my independence! But I know things can change and I want to be prepared.

DEAR CARALLEL: Do you have any advice on how to pay for nursing home care? My dad is in a rehab facility and it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to go back to his townhome. He had a stroke two months ago and needs a lot of help even to get from his bed to … “The cost of a nursing home is way more money than he has.”

DEAR CARALLEL: My partner has some dementia. I began noticing changes in his behavior a few years ago and we eventually got the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia about 18 months ago.  While I am afraid of what is to come, I’m angry now because he refuses my help. And he needs help with everything! Getting ready … “He refuses help that he clearly needs. What do I do?!?”

DEAR CARALLEL: My husband and I are retirees in our mid to late 70’s and all things considered, we’re in pretty good health. We have no way of knowing how long that will last but make it a point to do what we can to keep it that way by taking our daily walk and making … “Medication is so expensive! What can I do to lower my costs?”

DEAR CARALLEL: My dad is 81 years old. He’s a happy guy. Still works out a few times a week and goes to coffee just about every morning. My sister and her family live 20 minutes down the road and I’m a couple hours north.  I was recently in town for a pre-Christmas visit. Dad seemed … “I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like his car had been in a Nascar race.”

DEAR CARALLEL: I moved into my mother’s home four and a half years ago when it was too much for her to be living on her own. I was not quite sure what was going on with her at the time, I just thought she was getting older. Long story short, it turned out to be the … “She’s accusing me of stealing her pocketbook, her money, and her lipstick.”