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 …
Life Changes Q&As
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 …
Can you tell me how to make sure that my elderly father’s medical wishes will be respected? He’s in ill health, and he has often said that he doesn’t want any heroic measures taken to prolong his life. I know that we need to establish formal documentation of his desires in this regard, but I …
Can you direct me to any good books addressing mental health problems from a Christian perspective?
How can I help my spouse overcome an addiction to alcohol? She’s “given up drinking” several times only to soon end up back on the bottle. She’s lost her job, our household is a mess, and the whole family is slowly going to pieces. What can I do to turn things around?
As grandparents, how should we approach discipline with grandchildren who live under our roof? Our divorced daughter and her children recently moved in with us, and this has already led to some tense situations. What’s the best way to handle this?
Do you have any suggestions for how I can help my elderly mom with her finances? She’s still living independently in her own home, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that she’ll soon be unable to handle her finances and other matters of practical business on her own. I see a disaster coming if my siblings …
Do you think it is wise for family members to loan money to one another- for example, brother to brother, adult to child, parent to child, etc.?
Does a Christian teacher have a right to “witness” to others on the job? I’d like your opinion on the following scenario. A friend of mine recently graduated from Bible college and interviewed for a job at a local preschool. One of the interviewers, being aware of her educational and religious background, expressed some concerns …
How do I know if I have a serious problem with electronic and online games? I’ll admit I’m an avid player. I go straight to the computer every night after work and spend the rest of the evening there. It’s a way to rest and relax after a hard day on the job. The only …
Where does giving fit in with wise financial planning? These days it seems that pastors, churches and ministries are constantly asking for my money. In the process, they’re always talking about the importance of giving and telling me that it’s a crucial part of the Christian life. I’m not sure I buy this argument. What’s …
What can we do to make our terminally ill grandmother’s final days as comfortable as possible? She’s at the point when there’s no sense in attempting to prolong her life by heroic measures, but we want to do everything we can to help her. We’ve been thinking about hospice care, but we don’t know much …
