Like many people in my generation, I have been juggling responsibility for work, home and an aging parent. I have been grateful for the assistance of a supportive family and business partners as I made frequent trips across the country to see my dad.
I will admit to feeling just a little smug that I had the experience and knowledge to help Dad with the changes he was having. “What do families do,” I wondered, “when they don’t even know where to start or what to expect?” In our work as Geriatric Care Managers we recognize how often a crisis catches adult children unprepared for the tasks ahead.
Just such a crisis happened in our family when my father fell and hit his head in December. I knew his physical strength was declining but took comfort in the resources available at his Continuing Care Community. The fall was a wake up call to both of us that life was changing even more.
After spending 9 days together creating a safety plan including additional support in his apartment, I wasn’t home 6 days before the phone rang with another health crisis. Suddenly I wasn’t just providing knowledge, I was doing hands on caregiving. That is where life finds us today – coping day to day and trying to plan for the future.
If you are an adult child, caring for an aging parent, what was the moment when you realized you had become a caregiver and how did it change your life?
