Loneliness, characterized by the state of feeling alone, is experienced by many people. So, you aren’t alone when you feel lonely.

It can be difficult to know what to say and how to approach your parent, grandparent or other elderly relative about the sensitive topic of long-term care. Your loved one may feel as if they are a burden or that you no longer care about them. It may also be hard for them to admit they need assistance.

While some family caregivers gradually grow into their roles or are born into it, others can pinpoint the event that started their journey: Their father was hospitalized after a fall and needed more help at home, or their wife was diagnosed with an unexpected chronic illness.

If you are taking to the road this summer, follow these tips to help ensure you get to your vacation destination and back home safely.

As we age, normal changes in the body can affect the way we process medications. For example, liver and kidney function may decrease, which can affect how a drug breaks down and is eliminated from the body.  

"There is no question that physiology changes as we age. Many chronic medical conditions don't even appear until our later years," said Sandra L. Kweder, M.D., F.A.C.P., deputy director of the FDA Office of New Drugs. "It's not that people are falling to pieces; some changes are just part of the normal aging process."

When I was caring for my father and grandmother, I didn’t think of myself as a family caregiver. I viewed it as auxiliary duties of a daughter and granddaughter. Guiding my dad’s feet into his orthopedic boots and cleaning out my grandma’s refrigerator was a part of our unspoken family agreement to always support and love each other. When I was providing care, I thought “caregiver” was the term for a professionally-trained health care worker. “Caregiver” didn’t apply to me: I didn’t attend school for caregiving, I wasn’t receiving a paycheck, and I wasn’t caring for strangers but my own family.

Grandfathers, uncles, fathers, stepfathers and all our male role models remind us that growing old is inevitable, but growing up is optional. We thank and honor them with a testament of “dad jokes,” stories and fond memories that are sure to make you groan, laugh and smile.

Caregiving for a parent or grandparent can be complex. Family caregivers must learn how to balance lives full of responsibilities with their parent’s or grandparent’s’ lives.

Life hacks, tips and tricks, can help family caregivers find smarter, easier ways to accomplish everyday activities or solve common problems — all without breaking a sweat. Here are 13 ways to work smarter, not harder.

Growing old has its advantages: the wisdom of life experiences, the leisure of retirement, the joys of grandchildren and the benefits of senior discounts. On the other hand, growing old increases the likelihood of health concerns.

Data from Medicare show 80 percent of adults 65+ have at least one chronic condition. In addition, the most common health issue for adults 65 and older is high blood pressure, while the second is high cholesterol. According to the National Institutes of Health, 62 percent of adults age 50+ have high cholesterol. Similar to high blood pressure, high cholesterol causes no symptoms but can lead to impaired heart health.

Recently, I came across an article that struck a chord with me. Terry Jones, a member of the comedy team, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, announced his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in September 2016. A newer interview provided an update about Terry’s condition, and also a request from his family: raise awareness about FTD and help others cope with it.

As an advocate and educator of dementia care practices, I want to honor their wishes by sharing more information about this less well-known form of dementia.