Caring for a parent
Most people visit this blog because they are caring for a parent. If you’re not already actively doing this, you may be here to learn some tips ahead of time. Smart idea. Caring for a parent is not the same as caring for a child. Although the aging process may ultimately mimic a return to childhood when it comes to addiction, your parents are not children.
Your children, if you’re lucky, grew up and flew. You took care of them. Taking care of your parents as they age won’t be far behind. How you think and feel about it will shape your approach and ability to deal with it.
Your parents won’t want you to do it.
In most cases, they won’t want it and will know that it will put a strain on your life, your relationships, and perhaps your job. They won’t want that.
They probably don’t want a complete stranger to help them either. Ultimately, outside help can be a boon and extremely beneficial for all parties. I should know, I’ve been that outside help for over 20 years. The person who begins as a stranger becomes integrated into the family fabric over time.
I came across this Ted X video on YouTube and watched it hanging on his every word.
Luckily, at 77, my own mother is a huge vessel of energy and life, but the signs are there. The multiple replacements of body parts with others on the list, the loss of track of her sentence and the word she needs, and the wrinkles of experience on her face are all subtle reminders.
I was lucky, she’s an independent beast, only asking for help when she’s stuck or needs something printed or ordered.
Bank closures.
It’s the little things you notice. The anxiety they feel over things that don’t matter to us. What does it matter if there are no more big banks? The vast majority of us do our banking and just about everything else online. For us, it’s easy and natural. For our parents, they get by and get by until there is a problem. Then they need I don’t want to talk to a person face to face. Difficult if your bank is closed.
There’s more to come… Just wanted to get this great video safely on CaronCares