AGING BABY BOOMERS TAKE CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS

WELCOME TO BABY BOOMER MEMOS
BLOG #53
AGING BABY BOOMERS TAKE CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS

Most Baby Boomers are experiencing, have experienced, or will experience a distinctive type of stress (and heartbreak) that materializes when our elderly parents need care.

This particular stress comes in waves. The initial wave strikes soon after we sense parents have become too ill or too frail to care for themselves. As difficult as that is, and with no time to recover, the knockout stress-wave hits when siblings attempt to reach consensus about caregiving arrangements. It is all so overwhelming that even harmonious siblings are susceptible to petty quarrels. If these escalate into vigorous disagreements, they usually are just momentary reactions to tension-filled circumstances.

In contrast, each stress-wave causes siblings with hostile relationships to react more harshly to each other. Typical caregiving disagreements go from bad to worse and morph into out-and-out battles.

With or without hostilities, boomers know our focus should be on doing whatever is best to alleviate parents' suffering; their wellbeing should take priority over sibling grievances.

Knowing what should be done is a good first step. The important next step is activating this knowledge into positive behavioral changes.

NOTE
Suggestion: As a loving gesture of compassion for parents, why not put sibling hostilities on hold and call a temporary truce? Think of it as a good deed that may result in a remarkable outcome ... deep-rooted wounds start to heal.
Is it possible? Maybe.
Is it worth a try? Definitely.

STAY TUNED
Boomers Shatter Parenting Traditions ...

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email:   drwendykyman@gmail.com