You have a feeling that it’s time to pay attention to your aging parents. They are healthy and active now, but you are well aware of what may happen down the road. They may be diagnosed with a chronic illness. Or worse yet, they may run out of money. And YOU don’t want to be […]
Worried about your aging parents? Don’t say a word to them until you read this. Read More »
Let’s say your mom got scammed by someone over the phone and kept it a secret because she felt foolish and embarrassed. Or conversations with Dad escalate into shouting matches on a regular basis. You’re so angry all the time that by now you’re beginning to suffer from physical symptoms like headaches, frequent colds, interrupted
Anger, Caregiving, and Aging Parents: What To Do About It Read More »
You get along fine with Mom and Dad. You have your life, and they have theirs. You do what you want and so do they. Sometimes that means your parents spend their entire day doing nothing more than sitting around the house watching TV, reading the newspaper, making something to eat, taking naps, and watching
Attention Adult Children: Got an Aging Parent Who Does Nothing All Day? Read More »
Managing the care of parents and others requires updating our mindsets to fit the situation. On any given day we grapple with questions like: Who makes the decisions? Who pays for what? We also ride the daily emotional rollercoaster, simultaneously feeling sad, angry, guilty, loving and helpless and often wonder if we are “losing it.”
Caring for Aging Parents? How Can I Be In Two Place At Once? Read More »
With the holiday season fast approaching, you may think this is an ideal time to openly discuss eldercare needs with the people in your immediate family. And I think otherwise. You’ve probably heard the expression, “timing is everything.” That statement is especially true when it comes to holiday family gatherings. Think about a past situation
Holidays Are NOT the Ideal Time to Talk About Eldercare – Part 1 Read More »
When I walked into Mom’s apartment, she was sitting on the sofa with a bag of ice on her arm. Seeing her sitting there looking sad and out of sorts stopped me dead in my tracks. As I was trying to process the situation, she said, “Aren’t you going to feel sorry for me?” I
When eldercare comes knocking at the door, many people run in the opposite direction; but not you. Just as childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and middle age are developmental phases of life, you acknowledge that someone you care about is going to get old and that someone is going to need care and attention. You may
Worried about your aging parents? We Don’t Choose Eldercare. Eldercare Chooses Us. Read More »
Out of nowhere comes an emergency phone call. “Come quick. Your mother fell.” Now you are the one who is thrown off balance. Unquestionably the emotional climate surrounding a medical emergency is highly charged. Suddenly the appointed caregiver is you. Your game plan in an eldercare emergency is to reduce confusion and runaway emotions. Keep
Caught off Guard? Suddenly You’re a Family Caregiver: 5 Things To Do Right Now. Read More »
Like many Baby Boomers, I am experiencing the deaths of close friends and beloved family members at a fast and furious rate. Sometimes the deaths come after a long and painful dying process. Other times – Poof! People die with little to no warning. This month alone, four individuals whom I loved dearly died unexpectedly.
Are you a family caregiver? If it’s time for hospice read this first. Read More »
Everybody is “right.” You’re right and the person you are caring for is right. No matter what the situation, everybody feels like they are the one who is right. But hold on. Whose life is it anyway? It doesn’t matter if what you have to say is “the truth.” It doesn’t matter if you
Adult Children of Aging Parents: Curb the Urge to Take Over Read More »