Howard Gensler is a veteran journalist who’s worked at the Philadelphia Daily News, TV Guide and the Philadelphia Inquirer and has freelanced for dozens of magazines and websites. Gensler also wrote the story for the 2012 movie, Hysteria, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy. In between jobs, he worked as a caregiver for his mom.
Anguish and Oxygen November 26, 2024 - When caregiving continues for a few years, there are days when it seems like it’s never going to end, and days when you’re terrified it may actually be coming to an end. One thing is universal, however—the situation rarely gets…
Feeling Smoothie October 16, 2024 - About six months before what would have been her 99th birthday, Mom began to have trouble swallowing. Liquids made her cough, and foods became tougher to chew, as her teeth, which had done yeoman work for more than nine decades,…
Wading through the Challenges of Weeping Edema September 19, 2024 - After my mother’s second broken hip, she began sleeping in her recliner in the living room. It was easier and she was small, so she slept just as well. I slept on the couch less than 10 feet away, but…
100 Feet August 20, 2024 - When you’re caring for someone in their late 90s, you can become fairly familiar with the local emergency room. One night while I was out, Mom fell by her front door. She pushed herself about 15 feet on her back…
The Parade of Aides July 16, 2024 - Working as a caregiver for a friend or family member is a rewarding but stressful job. When my mom qualified for an aide (thanks to the pooled income trust and Medicaid), it gave me a break during the day to…
The Pooled Income Trust May 15, 2024 - By the time my parents were in their mid-80s, they had gone through their savings and were living off Social Security. My mom received around $1,700 per month and my dad, who often worked as an independent contractor, received around…
Mom’s Hip and My Road to Becoming a Caregiver April 25, 2024 - When your parents reach a certain age, or a particular physical or mental state that makes it harder for them to live independently, there are difficult decisions to be made: assisted living, nursing home, home health aide, move in with…
