Sally Abrahms

Biography: I’m a long-time contributor to AARP with both a personal and professional interest in caregiving. For the last twelve years, I have cared for my father, then my mother and now my 93-year-old mother-in-law. I cover aging and boomers and have written for TIME, Newsweek, the New York Times, USA Today and the Huffington Post, among others.

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Sally Abrahms 'sPosts

5 Ways Humor Can Help You Cope With Dementia

Posted on 04/10/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsBefore she had Alzheimer’s, author Jill McCorkle’s mother was very religious, never cursed or, God forbid, mentioned sex. But McCorkle’s sister called Jill last month. Apparently, their mother was talking nonstop about gonorrhea. She was convinced a lot of the residents in her memory care facility had it “and we all know how they got it,” she repeated. “There are things my mother says that are so out of character and off the wall,” says McCorkle. “I can’t even imagine …

Kids in Assisted Living: Everyone Wins

Posted on 04/3/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsThere’s a children’s book series that has come out in the last year about a young girl named Carlyn and her visits to her grandmother in assisted living. It debunks the stereotypes about old people and long-term care. Here’s one line from Carlyn Meets Granny Girl’s New Friends: “Wow, this does not look like a place creepy people live, and I do not smell anything weird, either!” Carlyn said. There’s an even more interesting story behind the book. It’s written by …

Older, Homeless, No Family Caregiver — What Do They Do?

Posted on 03/27/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | RelationshipsGet ready to see more older homeless men and women on the street. Since most don’t have families or are estranged from them, there’s no family caregiver. Here’s a TED talk that gives perspective on homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports there are 1.6 million homeless people a year on any given day. According to an NPR story, more than half of single homeless adults are age 47+. Younger boomers born between 1955-1965 are driving the aging …

Quick Tax Tips for Family Caregivers

Posted on 03/6/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Money & SavingsApril 15 is galloping into view. Give me a break! That’s what we all want when it comes to taxes. And this may be your year. Some of the rules regarding tax breaks for family caregivers have changed slightly since last year. I thought I’d do an update. Software tax programs like TurboTax, TaxAct and H&R Block at Home are easy to use and do many of these calculations for you. It’s still good to know if you qualify. You might …

Will Your Mom’s Retirement Community Give Her CPR?

Posted on 03/4/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Personal HealthAccording to its website, Glenwood Gardens in Bakersfield, Calif., says “our caring staff are trained and equipped to give aid or assistance whenever needed or requested.” They claim it offers “the best in independent living, assisted living, memory or nursing care. Glenwood Gardens is the place to be.” I guess that would be if you weren’t having a life-threatening breathing problem. I spent the day scrambling to get the facts about the now infamous incident last week at Glenwood Gardens’ …

Top 3 Caregiving Tips for Only-Children (They Work for Siblings, Too)

Posted on 03/4/2013 by Sally Abrahms | Caregiving | Comments

Caregiving | Home & Family | Your LifeWhen you hear about only-children who become only-child family caregivers, do you look at them with pity? No siblings to work together around Mom or Dad’s care. No brother or sister to bounce ideas off of or commiserate. Fewer helping hands financially, physically and emotionally — and who’s going to do the respite care? In some circumstances, it may actually be easier. That’s the word from social psychologist Susan Newman, author of The Case for the Only Child: Your Essential Guide. According …