View past issues of our newsletter

Our monthly newsletter is filled with practical tips for families caring for an older relative.

Help yourself to this archive of our back issues. And tell a friend!

Guardian Angel Hospice is here to support you in the important work that you do!

2024

October/November 2024

  • Simplifying the holidays
  • What is "observation status"?
  • Handy gadgets for arthritis

September/October 2024

  • Reducing and resolving chronic inflammation
  • Is assisted living a good fit?
  • Suicide and older adults

August/September 2024

  • How to choose a rollator
  • Hope: It's not what you think
  • Money tips for low vision

July/August 2024

  • Listening when a loved one is sad
  • "Going home tomorrow?!"
  • Signs of chronic inflammation

June/July 2024

  • Is it hearing loss or dementia?
  • Negotiating skills
  • "Tech support" scam

May/June 2024

  • Ride hailing for older adults
  • What is "vascular dementia"?
  • Sadness isn't all bad

April/May 2024

  • Home visits are in!
  • What is "inflammaging"?
  • Adaptive clothing

March/April 2024

  • Choosing a support group
  • Serving as a special needs trustee
  • Chronic kidney disease

February/March 2024

  • Tech support for your relative(s)
  • Maybe it's not Alzheimer's
  • Dealing with disgust

January/February 2024

  • Acting as a "human guide"
  • Early-onset dementia: Money issues
  • Making the most of regret

2023

December 2023/January 2024

  • Dementia: Navigating the airport
  • Choosing a "senior tablet"
  • Positive connections with staff

November/December 2023

  • Information and support
  • Financial/legal aspects of caregiving
  • Pacing yourself

October/November 2023

  • Physical therapy and pain relief
  • Curbing your perfectionism
  • Affordable funerals

September/October 2023

  • Caring as a stepfamily
  • Senior move managers
  • Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

August/September 2023

  • How is your relative's "social health"?
  • Low-vision bathroom
  • Adjusting to memory care

July/August 2023

  • Bringing the hospital home
  • What is "healthy selfishness"?
  • Dementia: Packing for a trip

June/July 2023

  • Dementia: Is travel realistic?
  • Senior bullying and exclusion
  • Meaningful end of life conversations

May/June 2023

  • Cancer screenings covered by Medicare
  • Moving to memory care
  • Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears

April/May 2023

  • Do you strive for perfection?
  • Pillbox 2.0
  • The care plan and meeting

March/April 2023

  • Calling a family meeting
  • Early-onset Alzheimer's
  • Choosing a meal service

February/March 2023

  • Home modifications for vision loss
  • Is it time for memory care?
  • If you are not the primary caregiver

January/February 2023

  • Are you the primary caregiver?
  • The yearly "Wellness Visit"
  • Where are the paid caregivers?

2022

December 2022/January 2023

  • Healing torn relations
  • Dementia and small children
  • Dry eye syndrome

November/December 2022

  • Honoring family caregivers
  • Suppose they don't get better ...
  • Not taking meds as directed?

October/November 2022

  • October is National Crime Prevention Month
  • Putting anticipation to work for you
  • What is Lewy body dementia?

September/October 2022

  • Caring with a stepparent
  • Could medicines be the culprit?
  • Who is who in skilled nursing facilities?

August/September 2022

  • When grandpa has dementia: Teens and tweens
  • The doctor interview
  • Noncancer screening tests

July/August 2022

  • Senior centers: Worth a fresh look
  • Combatting dehydration
  • Dementia and finances

June/July 2022

  • Text message scamming: "Smishing"
  • Does brain training work?
  • Swollen legs and feet

May/June 2022

  • Living with cancer as a chronic condition
  • When you envy others
  • Primary care providers

April/May 2022

  • Cooking tips for the visually impaired
  • Organ donation
  • Poetry and dementia

March/April 2022

  • Psychological first aid
  • Caregiving apps
  • "Chemobrain"

February/March 2022

  • Signs of an online "sweetheart scam"
  • Protecting the house from Medicaid
  • Reducing the nausea of chemo

January/February 2022

  • Friends? Who has time?
  • Need a new doctor?
  • When your relative is actively dying

2021

December 2021/January 2022

  • Private pay services for care at home
  • Hearing the TV better
  • Writing the last chapter

November/December 2021

  • The special needs of Vietnam-era vets
  • Help at home: Community programs
  • Holidays without your loved one

October/November 2021

  • Is Medicare Advantage the best choice?
  • Depression after a scary diagnosis
  • Too many pills: When less is more

September/October 2021

  • Not all socks are created equal
  • Dealing with anxiety
  • Services at home: Medicare

August/September 2021

  • Learning to forgive yourself
  • What is a daily money manager?
  • The decision to stop dialysis

July/August 2021

  • What’s involved in giving care?
  • What is a Medicaid spend down?
  • Bladder issues

June/July 2021

  • Signs of financial abuse
  • Giving "awesome" new meaning
  • Medical management without dialysis

May/June 2021

  • Transitioning from curative care
  • Managing arthritis pain
  • How to get durable power of attorney

April/May 2021

  • Coping with vision loss
  • What is "cremation authorization"?
  • Time for smart monitoring?

March/April 2021

  • Maximizing your resources
  • When kidneys fail: Dialysis?
  • How to read an Explanation of Benefits

February/March 2021

  • "For better or for worse …"
  • Dementia communication: Speaking
  • Age-related macular degeneration

January/February 2021

  • A robo-pet for companionship?
  • Slowing the progression of glaucoma
  • Problems with hygiene

2020

December 2020/January 2021

  • "Should we delay that procedure?"
  • Leaving a legacy with StoryCorps
  • Montessori for people with dementia

November/December 2020

  • Dementia and communication: Listening
  • Video chatting for the "tech challenged"
  • "Should we bring Dad home?"

October/November 2020

  • Health risks of Korean War vets
  • Supporting a person with arthritis
  • When you can't hold a funeral

September/October 2020

  • What is "mindfulness," anyway?
  • Nonverbal signs of pain
  • BPH: Weighing surgical options

August/September 2020

  • Repetitive questions
  • Caregiving as a team
  • "But I wasn't there when she died"

July/August 2020

  • The importance of staying connected
  • What's in an Alzheimer's test?
  • Osteoporosis: What you can do

June/July 2020

  • Coronavirus scams
  • Is twice a night too much?
  • Cooling down to make a decision

May/June 2020

  • When broccoli is bad for you
  • Avoiding regret
  • Signs of osteoporosis

April/May 2020

  • Doctors and advance directives
  • Return to a good night's sleep
  • Hallucinations in later life

March/April 2020

  • Are generic drugs inferior?
  • When Dad "saws logs" all night
  • Are you pushing against reality?

February/March 2020

  • Early signs of heart failure
  • The myth of self-reliance
  • Dad can't brush his teeth

January/February 2020

  • Adding meaning to your life
  • Immediately after a death
  • What is a "CCRC?"

2019

December 2019/January 2020

  • What is a speech therapist?
  • Visiting in the digital age
  • Overcoming sadness

November/December 2019

  • Too much gratitude?
  • Diet and Parkinson's
  • Talking about brain health

October/November 2019

  • Lessons from theater improv
  • What is a physical therapist?
  • Emotions following a stroke

September/October 2019

  • Medicare Open Enrollment Tips
  • A doctor's visit after a fall
  • When caregiving ends: Part 2

August/September 2019

  • Genetic testing for Alzheimer's
  • When caregiving ends - Part 1
  • How Parkinson's affects communication

July/August 2019

  • "Lie to my mom?"
  • Bad news
  • Personal emergency response systems

June/July 2019

  • Getting out of the mental spin cycle
  • Communicating with aphasia
  • Common elder scams

May/June 2019

  • When language falls apart
  • What is an occupational therapist?
  • Distraction techniques

April/May 2019

  • Keeping your marbles: reducing dementia risk
  • Fighting Parkinson's with exercise
  • "Spiritual" advance directive

March/April 2019

  • Smartwatches for seniors
  • Dementia: safety and independence
  • Managing chronic pain

February/March 2019

  • Addressing fatigue in heart failure
  • Setting limits: saying "no" nicely
  • Age-friendly kitchen

January/February 2019

  • 2019 Medicare improvements
  • Preparing for a safe return
  • Signature strength: calm

2018

December 2018/January 2019

  • Gifts for older adults
  • How to discourage wandering
  • A new year reflection

November/December 2018

  • Late-life veterans' issues
  • Savoring good experiences
  • Exercise and COPD: an oxymoron?

October/November 2018

  • Preparing for Cold and Flu Season
  • Signature Strength: Courage
  • When your parent drinks too much

September/October 2018

  • Signature Strength: Wisdom
  • Preparing for joint replacement
  • Does Mom have a drinking problem?

August/September 2018

  • When you need an energy boost
  • Safe traveling for older adults
  • "I don't need help" – Part 3

July/August 2018

  • Before you quit your job
  • "I don't need help" – Part 2
  • Opioid addiction and serious illness

June/July 2018

  • "I don't need help”
  • The habit of happiness
  • Using long-term care insurance

May/June 2018

  • Mother's Day without Mom
  • Is a new Medicare card in the mailbox?
  • When your passenger has dementia

April/May 2018

  • Memory loss and advance care planning
  • Phones for every disability
  • Advocating for a good night's sleep

March/April 2018

  • Empathy: Can you have too much?
  • When family is paid for care
  • Is breathing difficult?

February/March 2018

  • Walking out of the hospital
  • Write your cares away—carefully
  • Wheelchairs and your car

January/February 2018

  • The role of humor in caregiving
  • Drug misuse
  • Signs of stroke or "TIA"

2017

December 2017/January 2018

  • Take a break: Options for respite
  • Cataract surgery very effective
  • Is a reverse mortgage appropriate?

November/December 2017

  • Money: know the details
  • A clear mind in the hospital
  • Car gadgets and tips

October/November 2017

  • Make the most of visiting
  • What is "A-Fib"?
  • Fire prevention at home

September/October 2017

  • Caregiver loss: How well are you coping?
  • The ability to make health care decisions
  • Nail care

August/September 2017

  • The caregiver-friendly car
  • Medicare's Triple Aim
  • Is heartburn a problem?

July/August 2017

  • Curb your negative thinking
  • Beware rogue pharmacies
  • Is your bathroom "senior-friendly"?

June/July 2017

  • Talking to your parents about money
  • Is it sepsis?
  • If the unexpected happens

May/June 2017

  • Avoiding the "War of the Wardrobe"
  • Preventing a second heart attack
  • "Promise you won't …"

April/May 2017

  • Making medical decisions in a crisis
  • Visits: more than just business
  • Preventing aspiration pneumonia

March/April 2017

  • Medical deductions
  • "Sometimes I feel furious!"
  • Getting pneumonia while hospitalized

February/March 2017

  • Caregiving and your partner
  • After a heart attack
  • Mealtime and dementia

January/February 2017

  • Helping resolutions stick
  • When the attorney shuts you out
  • Probiotics: The “good” bacteria

2016

December 2016/January 2017

  • Preparing for your siblings' visit
  • Preventing and treating pneumonia
  • Medical equipment at home

November/December 2016

  • Sing a song for COPD!
  • Technology for coordinating care
  • Choosing a hospital? Look to the stars

October/November 2016

  • Managing your relative's money
  • It is flu season
  • A new perspective on stress

September/October 2016

  • The importance of touch
  • How to report symptoms to the doctor
  • What is a bedsore?

August/September 2016

  • Working with doctors long-distance
  • Complications of diabetes
  • Funeral logistics

July/August 2016

  • Is your relative dehydrated?
  • Whose idea was this, anyway?
  • What Medicare does NOT cover

June/July 2016

  • Father's Day without Dad
  • If the cancer returns
  • Making the transition to rehab

May/June 2016

  • Considering a remodel?
  • Easing the disruption of travel
  • Changes in vision

April/May 2016

  • Addressing loneliness
  • After cancer treatment
  • When should you make an advance directive?

March/April 2016

  • Reducing the stress of procrastination
  • The treatment phase of cancer
  • What if you are paid to care for a relative?

February/March 2016

  • Communicating long distance
  • Deciding about cancer treatment
  • Review medications before leaving the hospital

January/February 2016

  • Coping with new situations
  • How cancer affects relationships
  • You're far away, and she's failing

2015

December 2015/January 2016

  • Red flags for COPD
  • Taking charge of medical records
  • The benefits of massage

November/December 2015

  • Family caregivers of veterans
  • Keeping a gratitude journal
  • Preventing flare-ups of COPD

October/November 2015

  • Is your parent's behavior embarrassing?
  • Technology for health and safety
  • What does "prognosis" mean?

September/October 2015

  • Help prevent choking
  • The emotional side of cancer
  • Tracking needs from a distance

August/September 2015

  • Living with purpose
  • Osteoarthritis and physical activity
  • What to do after a death

July/August 2015

  • Understanding frailty
  • The "Sandwich Generation"
  • When Dad resists a walker

June/July 2015

  • Addressing your stressors
  • The post-discharge appointment
  • When there is a cancer diagnosis

May/June 2015

  • Denture care
  • What is a Care Manager?
  • Living with uncertainty

April/May 2015

  • Does the advance directive need updating?
  • Preventing dental disease
  • Removing "junk stimulation"

March/April 2015

  • Cavities at this age?
  • Moving sooner is better than later
  • Tax breaks for family caregivers

February/March 2015

  • Burnout prevention
  • More than a home
  • Physical activity improves brain health

January/February 2015

  • Music eases dementia care
  • Stress or burnout?
  • Talking about funeral plans

2014

December 2014/January 2015

  • "Dignity of risk"
  • Seniors having fun online
  • Start a safe walking routine

November/December 2014

  • Gifts for those with memory loss
  • More than fatigue
  • Who will care for Fido?

October/November 2014

  • Honoring the veterans in your life
  • Medicare rules about physical therapy
  • Unwanted odors

September/October 2014

  • Is Dad taking his meds "as directed?"
  • Make lemonade. Really?
  • What about your special needs sibling?

August/September 2014

  • Foot care for older adults
  • Hiring help yourself
  • When you feel more resentment than love

July/August 2014

  • Are financial documents up to date?
  • Easy activities with guests
  • Reducing the risk of falls

June/July 2014

  • Explaining your needs to others
  • Should Dad move in?
  • When Mom worries about falling

May/June 2014

  • Balance problems
  • Cleaning out the medicine cabinet
  • Take fifteen!

April/May 2014

  • Can you find Mom's advance directive?
  • Helping the doctor help you
  • Visiting assisted living facilities

March/April 2014

  • Insomnia in older adults
  • Talking about assisted living
  • Tax breaks for in-home care

February/March 2014

  • Family grief in the face of dementia
  • Before you suggest assisted living
  • Subtle signs of a heart attack

January/February 2014

  • Dementia Dogs
  • Long-distance caregiving
  • Researching health treatments online

2013

December 2013/January 2014

  • Constructive criticism: when to speak up
  • Gather important documents
  • Keeping blood pressure in check

November/December 2013

  • Palliative care for seriously ill veterans
  • Cultivating gratitude when the going gets tough
  • When blood pressure goes untreated

October/November 2013

  • Becoming more resilient
  • Repairing identity theft
  • What is high blood pressure?

September/October 2013

  • Avoiding surgery on the wrong body part
  • Choosing an elder law attorney
  • When Mom is really mean

August/September 2013

  • "I can't get Dad to budge!"
  • What to do with their stuff?
  • When to use "urgent care"?

July/August 2013

  • Add a dose of laughter to your life
  • Preparing for a heat wave
  • Early detection of memory problems

June/July 2013

  • Tips for vacationing without Mom
  • What is mild cognitive impairment?
  • When your relative has money questions

May/June 2013

  • Is your relative at risk for a hip fracture?
  • Look ahead when downsizing
  • When the worrying won't stop

April/May 2013

  • Do you know their wishes?
  • Preventing C. difficile: A very difficult germ
  • Stress and overeating

March/April 2013

  • The power of sleep
  • What to do if your loved one is depressed
  • When several relatives cover expenses

February/March 2013

  • Getting paid to care for Mom or Dad
  • What is a hospitalist?
  • When depression goes untreated

January/February 2013

  • Family and Medical Leave
  • Is your loved one depressed?
  • What is palliative care?

2012

December 2012/January 2013

  • Choosing a complementary medical practitioner
  • Supporting those in grief during the holidays
  • Tips for air travel

November/December 2012

  • Giving thanks: It's good for your health
  • Solutions to hearing loss
  • Tips for open enrollment

October/November 2012

  • Five signs your parents may need help
  • Talking with Dad about his hearing loss
  • What is hospice?

September/October 2012

  • Managing pain with music
  • Outpatient or inpatient? Why it's important to know
  • Sage advice from elders

August/September 2012

  • Dressing your relative for incontinence
  • What is a memory unit?
  • When parents need financial help

July/August 2012

  • How to beat "decision fatigue"
  • Safe disposal of "sharps"
  • What is "assisted living"?

June/July 2012

  • Five keys to stress management
  • Incontinence of the bowels
  • When should you choose a skilled nursing facility?

May/June 2012

  • Engaging activities for persons with dementia
  • Common misconceptions about hospice
  • When you gotta go, you gotta go

April/May 2012

  • If you are selected to be "power of attorney for health care"
  • Putting yourself in positive perspective
  • What does "generic" really mean?

March/April 2012

  • 2011 tax breaks for family caregivers
  • Dealing with criticism
  • Frequent infections in persons with dementia

February/March 2012

  • If Dad wants to remarry
  • Lessons from the seriously ill
  • Skin care and aging

January/February 2012

  • Choosing healthy ways to cope
  • Does Medicare pay for help at home?
  • How to find a good doctor

2011

December 2011/January 2012

  • Listening: The other half of the conversation
  • Talking with children about serious illness
  • Urinary tract infections: prevention tips

November/December 2011

  • Get help changing Medicare plans
  • Is your home safe for older guests?
  • Urinary tract infections

October/November 2011

  • Benefits available to veterans
  • The importance of vaccines
  • Would having a dog help? A fish?

September/October 2011

  • Seniors and crime
  • Caught in a cycle of negativity?
  • When should you take over Mom's checkbook?

August/September 2011

  • Making the best use of your time off
  • Strategies to address urinary incontinence
  • When your loved one is depressed, suggest exercise

July/August 2011

  • Accessing medical records
  • Recognizing elder abuse
  • Talking about urinary incontinence

June/July 2011

  • Interrupt the stress cycle with deep breathing
  • Staying independent: the role of technology
  • What is "elder abuse"?

May/June 2011

  • Cooking for caregivers
  • Preparing for the hospital
  • The value of nostalgia

April/May 2011

  • How to choose a health care decision maker
  • Keeping your relative safe from fraud
  • The journey of late life

March/April 2011

  • Coping with another person's pain
  • Is your family member a hoarder?
  • Tax breaks for family caregivers

February/March 2011

  • Dad lost weight!
  • Family Caregiver Happiness Project
  • What is hoarding?

January/February 2011

  • Sibling rivalry revisited
  • Tired of being the taxi?
  • What's new in Medicare

2010

December 2010/January 2011

  • Coping with the holiday blues
  • Alternatives to driving
  • Making the transition from hospital to home

November/December 2010

  • Engage with Grace
  • Help Mom be a safer driver
  • Managing medications: Remembering to take medicines

October/November 2010

  • Why Mom doesn't take her pills
  • Should Dad still be driving?
  • The four stages of hope

September/October 2010

  • Are you prepared for a disaster?
  • Get "Extra Help" with Medicare Rx Costs
  • How is caregiving different for men?

August/September 2010

  • Brain fitness: What's the best way to improve thinking?
  • Getting support from your spiritual beliefs
  • If your loved one becomes seriously ill while traveling

July/August 2010

  • Could an adult day program be the answer?
  • How nutrition affects breathing
  • Travel tips when your loved one is disabled

June/July 2010

  • Accessible national parks
  • Avoiding crises with COPD
  • Making the home safer

May/June 2010

  • Flying with oxygen
  • Review of the CareFinder Assessment Tool
  • When is your loved one too isolated?

April/May 2010

  • Avoiding crises with congestive heart failure
  • Aging and the self-fulfilling prophecy
  • What is an advance directive?

March/April 2010

  • A clean home: Free services for women with cancer
  • Tax tips for family caregivers
  • Your changing role: Becoming a partner-in-care

February/March 2010

  • How to beat "cabin fever"
  • Making treatment decisions
  • Staying calm: Proven relaxation techniques

January/February 2010

  • Bathing and dementia
  • Can Mom live safely on her own?
  • Reducing salt in Dad's diet

2009

December 2009/January 2010

  • Practicing forgiveness
  • Making the most of family visits
  • When your loved one gets tired easily

November/December 2009

  • Seeds of family resilience: Focus on rewards
  • Managing emotional outbursts
  • What is "power of attorney"?

October/November 2009

  • Getting the most from doctor appointments
  • Cold weather safety tips for indoors
  • Saving money on meds

September/October 2009

  • How do you know if your loved one is in pain?
  • Is caregiving hazardous to your health?
  • The healing power of music

August/September 2009

  • If you have to go to the Emergency Room
  • Is it Alzheimer's disease?
  • The value of support groups

July/August 2009

  • MyMedSchedule.com
  • Safety tips for summer
  • The healing power of volunteering

June/July 2009

  • Caregiving with kids
  • Honoring Cancer Survivors Day: How to increase your odds of survival
  • Understanding the rhythm of a disease

May/June 2009

  • Going on vacation with an elder
  • The healing power of remembrance
  • When Mom wants only you

April/May 2009

  • Balance exercises, an important step in preventing falls
  • Have you completed an advance directive?
  • Letting others pitch in

March/April 2009

  • Learning to accept help
  • Uncle Sam may have a tax break for you
  • When ice cream is better than salad

February/March 2009

  • The healing power of a life review
  • Burn and fire safety
  • Caring for your marriage, also

January/February 2009

  • Costs of caregiving: Sources of help
  • Overcoming resistance to exercise
  • The new year: A season of hope