What Caregivers Need

No one plans to be a caregiver…and few people are prepared when it suddenly happens. What Caregivers Need shares insider tips and frontline medical strategies—based on author Marcy Cottrell Houle’s 14 years as caregiver for her aging parents—to help others navigate this challenging but rewarding journey.

How to Make Hearing Aids Work for the Ones You Love
What Caregivers Need

How to Make Hearing Aids Work for the Ones You Love

Marcy Cottrell Houle | January 1, 2019

Good hearing is essential to good health but many people resist hearing aids. Here, how caregivers can make hearing aids work for their loved ones.

Hospital Traps for Seniors
What Caregivers Need

Hospital Traps for Seniors

Marcy Cottrell Houle | December 4, 2018

Caregivers must be vigilant when a loved one is hospitalized. How to keep your loved one from becoming weak…disoriented…sleep-deprived, dehydrated and more.

Write Your Life Story: The Best Gift for Children and Grandchildren
What Caregivers Need

Write Your Life Story: The Best Gift for Children and Grandchildren

Marcy Cottrell Houle | November 6, 2018

While you still remember—questions to you get started sharing your life story with the people you love…and for caregivers to get their loved ones talking.

Caregivers: Take Care of Your Brain
What Caregivers Need

Caregivers: Take Care of Your Brain

Marcy Cottrell Houle | October 9, 2018

Caregiving is hard, draining work, but you can’t neglect yourself in the process. Here, the four keys to maintaining your brain health. Make the time!

Caregivers: Know the Signs of Dehydration
What Caregivers Need

Caregivers: Know the Signs of Dehydration

Marcy Cottrell Houle | September 11, 2018

My father nearly died from dehydration—and the care-facility staff missed the signs, thinking it was his Alzheimer’s. How to protect your loved one.

What Caregivers Need: The Six Steps to Self-Care
What Caregivers Need

What Caregivers Need: The Six Steps to Self-Care

Marcy Cottrell Houle | August 14, 2018

One of my favorite caregivers of my mother once expressed, “Caregiving is not a hard job; it is a heart…

Caregivers Need Sleep Too!
What Caregivers Need

Caregivers Need Sleep Too!

Marcy Cottrell Houle | August 6, 2018

Try these five pill-free remedies for achieving a restorative night’s sleep…and wake up with the energy you need to accomplish all the demands on your time.

When a Loved One Is in the Hospital: 3 Most Important Terms
What Caregivers Need

When a Loved One Is in the Hospital: 3 Most Important Terms

Marcy Cottrell Houle | August 6, 2018

It’s something nobody wants to think about: Going to the hospital. The fact remains, though, that older people can wind…