by Teresa Dunbar | May 11, 2020 | Aging Dad, Aging Grandparent, Aging Mom, Aging Parent, Anticipatory Grief, Caregiver, Elderly Care, Northern Virginia, Quarantine, Washington DC
Jane cares for her husband Jim who is in the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Some days she feels as if she cannot be any sadder. This is not her husband as he used to be. His abilities keep changing over time. He requires more and more care. She feels guilty when...
by Megan Descutner | Apr 3, 2020 | Care Services, Caregiver, Elderly Care, Planning
In times of crisis, everything feels up in the air and situations that are normally difficult to manage are completely overwhelming. If you’re a struggling caregiver of an aging loved one and aren’t sure what to do during this pandemic, an Aging Life Care...
by Megan Descutner | Mar 1, 2020 | Aging Dad, Aging Parent, Care Services, Elderly Care, In-Home Services, Long Term Care Insurance
George, age 84, lived by himself in an apartment. As his care manager, I was concerned about him and so were his daughters, who lived out of state. He had diabetes and COPD, had become more frail, and was having trouble taking care of himself. During my weekly visits...
by Megan Descutner | Feb 15, 2020 | Aging Parent, Caregiver, Elderly Care, Healthcare Management, Northern Virginia, Planning, Special Needs
I met Ariana when she came to me for a consultation about her parents and her brother. Ariana’s parents were both in their late seventies and had health problems that were starting to slow them down. Ariana’s brother, Michael, had a developmental...
by Megan Descutner | Feb 1, 2020 | Aging Dad, Aging Grandparent, Aging Mom, Aging Parent, Alzheimer's, Caregiver, Dementia, Elderly Care, Northern Virginia, Visiting Parents, Washington DC
Every family has its own unique history, rules, and secrets. In my experience, conflict can easily erupt when families are in crisis or transition. This was the case with Janice and her siblings when their father, Ed, could no longer live alone.Janice had hired me as...
by Megan Descutner | Jan 13, 2020 | Aging Dad, Aging Grandparent, Aging Mom, Aging Parent, Elderly Care, Healthcare Management, Medication Management, Northern Virginia, Washington DC
Gina was worried; it seemed that every time her mother complained of a new ache or pain to her doctors, she was prescribed another medication. Yet the more drugs she took, the worse she felt. It got to the point where Gina’s mother was taking at least 10 pills a...