What can we do to help guide our extended family – siblings, spouses, and grandkids – through the difficult experience of losing an elderly loved one? It’s obvious that my mother is very near the end. How do we prepare for her eventual death? Do you have any practical suggestions?
Life Changes Q&As
Do you have any suggestions about what qualities I should look for in a doctor? Our family doctor just moved out of town. She referred me to another physician, but I think I’d like to check around for other options.
How much time should I devote to my work? My job requires me to put in long hours every week. As a result I’m not able to give as much attention to other things — including my family — as I’d like. In your opinion, how much time is too much time for work? Do …
As an adult who grew up in a home with an alcoholic parent, what do I need to know about the potential impact of my past upon my present life? What are the biggest challenges faced by adult children of alcoholics? Can you direct me to some resources that provide help and guidance in this …
What are some biblical principles and guidelines that will help me understand God’s perspective on money and finances?
What does the Bible mean when it says that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6)? How do I apply this to the way I manage my finances? And why does Paul go on to state that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil?”
Can you help me understand what my elderly dad might be feeling? I sometimes think that elderly people are “invisible” to the rest of us. We never seem to ask ourselves what they’re thinking and feeling as they deal with personal loss, the implications of aging, and the prospect of death.
Do you have any suggestions as to how I can come alongside someone who is grieving the loss of a spouse? A dear friend’s husband just died. My spouse and I would like to be available to comfort her in any way we can. How can we best support her during this time of loss?
What do you think about references to wizardry, sorcery, spells, and magic in storybooks, films, TV shows, and various other forms of entertainment? It seems our children are being bombarded with this, not only in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit, but even in relatively innocent Disney movies. To complicate matters, …
What do we need to do to make our home as safe and comfortable as possible for my elderly mom? She’s not coping well on her own, so we’re arranging to have her come and live with us. Can you offer any suggestions, especially when it comes to preventing falls?
Do you think there’s something wrong with a senior citizen who doesn’t enjoy the freedom of the so-called “golden years?” After decades of looking forward to retirement, I find the promised carefree lifestyle isn’t quite what I expected. I worked hard to attain this goal, and now I’m struggling with discontentment. What do you suggest …
How do I know when it’s time to take on more personal responsibility for the physical well-being of my aging parents? They’re getting older, and I can already see that I’m going to have to assume a larger portion of their care in the very near future. What can I expect as they age?
I’ve just become a victim of rape. I desperately need help and don’t know where to find it – what should I do now? So far, I haven’t told anyone. I’m ashamed to admit this to friends and family, and I’m afraid I’ll only make a bad situation worse if I go to the police. …
Are there resources available to help elderly people afford the rising price of health care? My mother has died and my dad is retired and living alone. He has a number of medical issues, and he’s desperately afraid that his money won’t hold out if he’s hospitalized or forced into a nursing home. How can …
What are the tell-tale signs of alcoholism? I’m worried about my husband, but I’m not sure if I have grounds for insisting that he do something about his drinking. When football season comes around, it’s five months of him and his friends sitting in front of the TV drinking beer. That doesn’t happen every night, …
How should I respond to the discovery that an adult member of the extended family of a friend has been forcing one of the children to engage in sexual acts with him? I don’t want to intrude in other people’s business, but now that I’m in possession of this information I feel responsible to do …
How should we plan to handle our grandmother’s health care needs and financial affairs now that she’s beginning to show signs of dementia?
Do you have suggestions for preventing conflicts and misunderstandings among siblings over the care of their aging parents? I’ve been hearing horror stories about what can happen when elderly people can no longer care for themselves and need the support of their grown children. My mom and dad are nearing that stage in their lives, …
Can you list for me some of the basic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? I’m beginning to fear that my spouse may have it, but I don’t know how to tell for sure. How does one care for a person afflicted with this condition?
How do we know when the right time has come to move my aging father-in-law out of our home and into a professionally staffed nursing facility? He’s been living with me and my husband for the past couple of years. I don’t want to abandon him just when his need is greatest, but recently I’ve …
