Helping an Elderly Parent Stay Safe – Adapting to New Responsibilities and Opportunities
“Recently I have noticed that Mom is slipping a little — forgetting things that she used to remember easily, wearing clothes that are not clean or do not match, and needing help with her checkbook and bill payments. I want to help but the thought of parenting my parent feels uncomfortable and even a little scary to me. I don’t want to aggravate Mom, but I know I have to start supervising her activities more so that she will stay safe and protected.” Although the process of children assuming parental roles with their parents has been occurring for most of human history, this fact is not very soothing to people who have to face the issue now. Acknowledging that our parents are declining and becoming more dependent on us for health and safety can be very difficult and stressful. After all, Mom and Dad were always there to care for us and support us through hard times and difficult decisions.
