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...
by Megan Descutner | Dec 19, 2019 | Aging Dad, Aging Grandparent, Aging Mom, Aging Parent, Alzheimer's, Caregiver, Dementia, Elderly Care, Holidays, Northern Virginia, Visiting Parents, Washington DC
How do you know if your mom has dementia?The holidays are here and shopping, baking, checking our lists, and spending time with family become a priority. If you are like me, my list includes checking on how mom is doing. She seems a little more forgetful and I have...
by Megan Descutner | Dec 2, 2019 | Caregiver, Elderly Care, Healthcare Management, Holidays, Northern Virginia, Visiting Parents, Washington DC
Michelle’s dad was doing so well living on his own. At 87 years old, he was healthy and still getting out most days to work in his garden, chat with the neighbors, do his shopping, and drive a few miles to the senior center to play Bingo on Friday afternoons. As his...
by Megan Descutner | Nov 16, 2019 | Caregiver, Holidays, Northern Virginia, Visiting Parents, Washington DC
It’s two days before Christmas and your Uber pulls up to your mother’s home. You get out expecting to see her heading towards you from the door, arms open, the joy of the holidays showing on her apron, and her laugh filling the space. You stand there for a minute and...
