How to find purpose after placing a loved one in professional care
Dear Laird: I feel like an utter failure. Out of profound love and respect for my dear husband, who is now in the final stages of Alzheimer’s, I made a heartfelt [...]
When to consider hospice care and the costs of delaying it
Written by Laird Landon, Ph.D. Last month, I explored the relationship between palliative care and hospice care, emphasizing their shared commitment to improving a patient’s quality of life. Palliative care [...]
Advocacy tips for family caregivers
Dear Laird: I just placed my wife in a community with memory care and I am fragile. They told me to not visit for a week or two so she [...]
Understanding Mom’s bad behavior
Dear Laird: I have been my mother’s caregiver for about five years. She has Alzheimer’s. It hasn’t been particularly difficult until recently. A couple of months ago my mother’s personality changed—I [...]
Grieve your own way
Dear Laird: I am 70 years old and was my husband’s dementia caregiver for seven years. He died six months ago. Recently, I found someone I enjoy being with. We share [...]
How caregivers can manage hygiene and incontinence
Dear Laird: I feel like I am on a 24/7 treadmill, and it keeps going faster and faster. My wife was diagnosed with dementia 12 years ago. She was stable for [...]
What to do when the doctor won’t listen to the caregiver
Dear Laird: My brother’s Alzheimer’s is advancing rapidly. The problem is that he doesn’t tell doctors the truth about his issues, so the doctor can’t give him good advice or treatment. [...]
Caregiver Support
Written by Dr. Laird Landon, Ph.D. for Beacon Senior News Laird Landon cared for his wife Marilyn for 10 years as she battled a rare form of dementia. From that [...]
Tips for Doctors Treating Families Living with Dementia
“The highest two correlates of global satisfaction with a physician (treating a family living with dementia) are perceived emotional support and provision of links to social support.”2 1. At the [...]
A Modest Start To An Essential Conversation
At a recent community forum sponsored by Caregiver Support Foundation, Region 10, and Alzheimer’s Association, there were comments and questions. The most common topic was the challenges family caregivers have [...]
What To Do When You Can’t Fix It
Written by Laird Landon, Ph.D. Recently, the Caregiver Support Foundation was accepted as a member of the International Neuropalliative Care Society. To me, this is a very important link in [...]