stokes

Combining households has many benefits: less hassle running back and forth between two residences, less worry about Dad eating well and remembering his meds, more family social time for him, cost savings on rent and utilities, etc. But if things do not work out, disentangling could cause hurt feelings and damage your relationship. Consider these questions before you move in together. Relationships and life style

Death and dying are not topics we talk about easily in our culture. As a general rule, in fact, we avoid them, almost as if to talk about them would bring on a premature demise. As a result, many families are unaware of their loved one's wishes at the end of life and are faced with making difficult decisions. This can lead to family discord and can make a trying situation even harder than it already is.

Hearing loss affects 50% of people over age 85, most commonly men. Poor hearing diminishes quality of life. It may bring on frustration in daily interactions with others. It can even be at the root of withdrawal from social activities. Hearing loss also carries risk, because your relative may not notice a shouted warning or may misunderstand a doctor's instructions.

Many families caring for a seriously ill loved one struggle alone unnecessarily. They miss out on vital support services because they don't understand what hospice can provide. Here are some common misconceptions.

Source: SeriousIllness.org Caring for an ailing relative can shift life in a way that makes typical measures of "success" pretty useless. Perhaps it's no longer important to work such "top producer" hours. Or to have the best garden on the block. But without these familiar markers, you may wonder, "Who am I? How am I doing?"