Life has a way of throwing a lot at us. And at no stage of life is this more true than in the "sandwich" years": that period of time when we must care for our parents as well as our children. With so many demands, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and even guilty as we cannot be in two places at the same time and must make choices about where to spend our time.
At Right At Home, we frequently hear from members of the sandwich generation who are concerned about a parent who is becoming increasingly frail. In some cases, they can't be with the parent as much as they would like to because they live in another city or state. Other times, the demands of work and their own family overwhelm.
Our caregivers can mean the difference between the connectedness one feels when they are part of a community and the isolation that one feels when they are not. Sometimes, we provide help with daily routines, such as dressing and eating, and at other times we provide companionship and emotional support.
Caring for an elder and children at the same time is hard. I know, because I do it myself. I want other people in my age group to know they don't have to go it alone. Good, safe, and reliable help is available.
I welcome your posts about the experiences and challenges of caring for an aging parent.
Vladimir Zarkhin and Helen Valko, Co-Owners, Right at Home - Boston Metro West
617-597-1500
www.bostonmetrowest.rightathome.net
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