If you provide care for someone confined to a bed, then you probably understand some of the daily challenges with personal hygiene. To make bedside bathing easier, maybe it’s time to consider leaving the old bath basin and soapy washcloths behind.

Whether Uncle Joe is heading home after heart surgery, or your mom is leaving a short-term skilled nursing facility to go home, a smooth transition from hospital to home takes a little pre-planning and preparation. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers a checklist related to the discharge process for nursing staff to make the transition. The checklist includes key topics such as the following:

My wife Joan loved to sew quilts. Seems like a quilt always sat on the sewing machine, or on her lap— where she stitched in the final touches. Her sewing machine sat on the kitchen table, a place where she worked for hours piecing quilts together—square by square. She loved that spot because the sunlight beamed into the window. Joan’s quilting crew from church worked tirelessly and donated quilts all over the world. My wife took pride in giving back to a world in need of more kindness.

We know people are living longer. So that means caregiving routines are stretched out for longer periods of time. On average, a 75-year-old caregiver spends about 34 hours per week on caregiving, compared to a 65-year-old who provides just 30 hours per week, according to a collaborative report published by Johns Hopkins University. Hopefully these numbers give pause for thought for caregivers.

Ever notice your mouth feels like an arid dessert? Or maybe your tongue feels dry like beef jerky. While dry mouth is uncomfortable, the mouth may harbors more bacteria due to depleted saliva. And that could lead to tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). No one wants to schedule dental appointments to fill cavities or have teeth yanked out. That’s why it’s important to protect your teeth while you still have them.

Did you ever think of your mouth as a receptacle of sorts, when it comes to eating and drinking; in goes the coffee each morning as well as regular food. But it’s also where bacteria, viruses, and fungi like to hang out. After all, it’s moist, dark, and warm—a perfect environment where germs thrive.

My wife Patty and I used to have conversations. She loved children and loved to cook, and talked about both. I also remember her homemade spaghetti sauce—she was quite the cook. We’ve enjoyed a good life together. Now we find ourselves in a new season of life. Patty was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Lobe Dementia and Alzheimer’s in 2007. Many caregivers who understand this neurological disease know how hard it is to watch the rapid personality changes that go with it.

If you’re a diabetic, you understand why foot health is so important. Here’s a refresher on the warning signs that could put your feet in harm’s way. With some help from the Centers for Disease Control, we share a few reminders about what to watch for so your feet stay healthy and happy.