If you’re caring for an elderly parent, it’s likely you’ll be tired of the physical and mental energy needed by your aging loved one. It’s normal to be tired. But if you don’t take time to rest, you may suffer from compassion fatigue, also known as burnout. Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue Excessive blaming Bottled up…
Where did I leave my glasses? Why did I come into this room? Speak louder. I can’t hear you. I won’t be able to go to your party; I don’t like to drive at night. Why don’t my kids call? All they want to do is text. If you’re older than sixty-five, you may…
Financial elder abuse is when an older adult is financially exploited by a stranger. It’s even worse when it’s someone they know, like a family member or caregiver. Financial elder abuse crosses all social, educational, and economic boundaries. My mom’s phone rang one fall morning. “Grandma?” asked the male voice on the other end. “Mark?”…
Several years ago, our family gathered for the traditional Christmas dinner. We were at the home of my brother and sister-in-law. An argument ensued over a proposed expansion of a nearby Catholic Church. My dad, who was in a wheelchair, started complaining about being cold. My nephew, who has autism, started muttering loudly. I remember…
Winter brings short days, inclement weather, and bleak landscapes. Plants die, dropping their withered leaves on barren ground. Sometimes our souls become as stark as leafless trees, or like branches weighted with heavy snow. Have you ever wished for a respite from the daily tasks of caring for an elderly parent? I know that the…
Summer is when nature turns up the heat. Here in the Sacramento Valley, we grow some of the world’s best food. It wouldn’t be possible without the long, hot, summer days. In the caregiving season, the heat is turned up as well. We’re hit with the stark reality that life is changing, and we better…
Autumn colors, leaves falling, daylight savings; these are signs the season has changed from the lazy days of summer. There are signs of the changes in the caregiving season as well. When my father’s health began to decline, I often wondered if aliens had abducted him and replaced him with an old, feeble man. He’d…
In the spring of the caregiving season, denial is our companion. Changes happen so slowly that we don’t realize it until we take look at our loved ones with fresh eyes. It hurts to see them as they’ve become. No longer our invincible heroes, they’re now gray-haired and a little stooped over. They get tired…
