Complications After Rehab—and the Solution You May Be Missing

 September 17, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman experiencing complications after rehab lies in bed.

It started with a clear plan: Mom would go to rehab, get stronger, and come home. But then—progress slowed. The days blurred into weeks. A discharge date appeared, then disappeared. And suddenly, words like “long-term stay” or “nursing home” were on the table. Complications after rehab can turn a short recovery into an open-ended question. But here’s the part families often don’t hear: there’s still room to rewrite the ending. (more…)


Real-World Advice on Coping With Anger in Dementia Care

 September 3, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman is effectively coping with anger in dementia care by pausing to look out the window.

You’re doing your best. You show up every day, you try to stay calm, you remind yourself that it’s the disease, not the person. But sometimes, when the same question is asked for the 12th time in an hour, when you’re met with resistance while trying to help, when you haven’t had a full night’s sleep in weeks, something inside you snaps. And then comes the guilt. (more…)


How to Work Through Caregiver Guilt After Loss

 August 19, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

The silhouette of a person watching the sunset represents feelings of caregiver guilt after loss.

You gave your time, your energy, and your heart. You rearranged your life to care for someone you love, and now that they’re gone, you expected to feel grief. What you probably didn’t expect was guilt. Guilt for the things you said. Or didn’t say. For not doing more. Or for feeling relieved that it’s over. Feelings of caregiver guilt after loss can come in waves. Knowing how to process and manage them in a healthy way is an important step toward healing. (more…)


The Real-Life Challenges of Caring for Aging Parents With Different Needs

 August 12, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman caring for aging parents with different needs smiles as she places an arm around her parents’ shoulders.

Mom likes to talk things through. Dad prefers quick facts. She wants reassurance that everything will be okay. He wants to know he’s still in control. And you? You’re learning that caring for aging parents with different needs often means learning two entirely different “languages.” It may feel like two jobs at once, but understanding what each parent needs emotionally and practically can make the journey more manageable and meaningful. (more…)


The Power of Using Sports to Connect With Someone With Dementia

 August 6, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A man is using sports to connect with someone with dementia as they look through old photos together.

Ask someone about their favorite sports memory, and chances are you’ll see their face light up. Maybe it was the thrill of being the star football player on the varsity team, the time they got to meet a legendary baseball hero, or their dad teaching them to shoot hoops in the driveway. If you’re using sports to connect with someone with dementia, these moments can feel surprisingly fresh—and can spark engagement in remarkable ways. (more…)


What to Expect as a Cancer Caregiver

 July 21, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman who is learning what to expect as a cancer caregiver hugs her mom.

Cancer often introduces itself in a thousand different ways. Sometimes it’s a dramatic entrance – an emergency room visit, a biopsy result, a word no one wanted to say out loud. Other times it’s a slow burn, a handful of symptoms that don’t quite add up until they suddenly do. But however it begins, one truth tends to follow closely behind: cancer doesn’t affect just one person. It affects everyone around them. And knowing what to expect as a cancer caregiver is paramount. (more…)


6 Alzheimer’s Care Tips That Actually Make a Difference

 July 15, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A man utilizing effective Alzheimer’s care tips smiles as he wraps a blanket around his wife’s shoulders.

No one teaches you how to do this.

You try to follow your instincts. You read a few articles. You tell yourself to stay patient, stay calm. But Alzheimer’s doesn’t operate by any familiar rules. What made sense last week suddenly doesn’t work today. There’s good news though! With a few small shifts, you can bring more calm, clarity, and connection into each day. (more…)


What No One Tells You About Caring for Your Parents as They Age

 July 9, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman incorporates tips for caring for your parents as they age by having a conversation with her mom and dad.

Caring for your parents as they age doesn’t come with a guidebook. Most of us step into it gradually, helping with errands or checking in more often. Then come the big decisions: Is it safe for them to drive? Do they need help at home? Are we ready to talk about long-term care?

And more often than not, we aren’t. (more…)


The Silent Signal You Shouldn’t Ignore: Loss of Appetite in Older Adults

 June 23, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman who has overcome loss of appetite in older adults enjoys a healthy meal.

A full plate left untouched can speak volumes. For many older adults, changes in appetite are a quiet signal that something isn’t quite right: physically, emotionally, or both. The loss of appetite in older adults is often a warning sign that deserves attention. Instead of turning mealtime into a battle, learning what might be behind the change can open the door to more effective, compassionate solutions. (more…)