Photo credit: dark_ghetto28
Blogs have proved to be highly valuable for caregivers— they are an easy exchange of caregiving information and personal stories. As more blogs on caregiving and by caregivers flood the web, it’s hard to know where to start reading! We’d like to help you start picking from the crowd by rating the top blogs that focus exclusively on “Caregiving for Aging Parents.”
[title text=”#6: Next Avenue: Caregiver Support, with 17 points”]
Usability: 4/10. It is unreasonably difficult to find Next Avenue’s blog. And just when you think you’ve found it, you haven’t. This blog’s amazing content is quite the buried treasure.
Presentation: 4/10. Not every Next Avenue post uses the “obviously-stock-photo” photos, so that scores big points. But ultimately the score is so low because of the presentation of the blog. The titles are amazing—but that’s all there is. No eye-grabbing photos, no content description or preview.
Originality: 9/10. Just listen to these recent titles: When the Someone You Love Becomes Someone Else; No Two Families Are Alike, But Guilt is Universal; Caregivers: Fumble Mom’s Money, Go to Jail.
Look for: All of Sherri Snelling’s posts. She’s an amazing writer and a caregiver advocate who really gets what caregivers want to read. Also, be sure to follow Next Avenue’s presence on Forbes and Huffington Post.
[title text=”#5: AgingCare.com: Caregiver Support, with 20 pts”]
Usability: 5/10. This one is a little confusing to use. If you know what you’re looking for, you’ll have a much easier time. But if you’re looking to browse their archives and check out the latest content (like I am right now), it’s frustrating. 
Originality: 9/10. The originality of the content is what attracted me to this blog. “Why We Need an Alzheimer’s Anonymous” is one of the best posts I’ve read recently (keep in mind that I read over 20 blog posts a day). There are some oddball posts (“Fingernails: 5 Signs That Point to Bigger Health Problems”—granted, I do have an aversion to reading the word ‘fingernails’ in anything) but most articles are completely on point.
Presentation: 6/10. I would like to see more images in both the preview of the post and in the post itself. However, I do love the way AgingCare.com’s newsletter breaks down their recent posts—it’s clean and easy to read.
Look for: Their Tough Issues section as well as the Emotional Wellbeing section. Both are excellent.
[title text=”#4: A Place for Mom, with 21pts”]
Usability: 8/10. Finally, a clearly marked “Blog” section on the homepage! Points for image + description + titles and relevant categories.
Originality: 6/10. Points off, not so much for originality, but for relevancy. A Place for Mom posts very frequently, every two or three days, so some articles are bound to be a little less interesting than others. I’m of the “post better and less” school—that way readers always know great content is waiting for them.
Presentation: 7/10. I love that they make Pinterest-optimized blog images by overlaying type on an image. The layout of the post is clean and reader-friendly.
Look for: Lists. They’re practical and easy to read.
[title text=”#3: Seniors for Living: Caregivers, with 22pts”]
Usability: 7/10. Points off for making the blog hard to find on the homepage. It might be intuitive for some people to scroll down for the footer link, but not for all.
Originality: 8/10. Michelle Seitzer gets a big shout out here. I look forward to reading her posts since she always has some unique insight or experience to offer. The blog posts generally are well written and original.
Presentation: 7/10. Some of the featured images are stretched or squashed. Personally, I’ve had infuriating experiences with blog platforms having their way with my images (I’m looking at you Blogger) so I have nothing but empathy. However, the blog would get top presentation points otherwise. Also, I docked a point for using my least favorite stock photo. Sorry, that one was personal :
Look for: Any of Michelle Seitzer’s posts. Especially this one.
[title text=”#2: When They Get Older, with 25 pts”]
Usability: 9/10. Very easy to use and navigate. Posts are broken down into clever categories, helping first-time and returning readers find what they’re looking for. Point off for not having one main feed. Okay, okay, maybe I’m being a little picky! I am a big fan of browsing by archives and it’s hard to do that here.
Originality: 7/10. Covers caregiving topics not discussed in many other blogs—including blindness and hoarding—as well as original practical advice, like Stocking the Cupboards.
Presentation: 9/10. Bright and easy to read—plus adorable graphics.
Look for: “Actually, I want to help me.”
[title text=”#1: The New Old Age Blog, with 27pts”]
Usability: 9/10. No bells and whistles here—this is exactly what you would imagine when you think “blog.” The most recent post at the top of the page, scroll down for older entries. You don’t have the same kind of navigability but the “Tag List” makes it easy enough to find what you’re looking for.
Originality: 9/10. This is a tough one to score for—it almost seems unfair to include. Since The New Old Age is one of the New York Times’ blogs, I would imagine the bloggers have many resources available to them through this relationship, not to mention previous journalism experience. That being said—the reporting is incredible.
Presentation: 9/10. Clean, easy to read, original images.
Look for: Jane Gross and Paula Span.
All blogs are very good and informative too. Thanking you for sharing these amazing blogs with us.
All these blogs are really helpful and explaining in details about caregiving for Aging Parents. Thanks for sharing such needful information. Keep sharing.
My blog 🙂 http://www.theunlikelycaregiver.com
All great picks. AARP also has blogs for family caregiving, including mine at http://blog.aarp.org/author/aarpsally/ and Amy Goyer’s at http://blog.aarp.org/author/amygoyer/. Thought your readers might want to know about them.