Caring for an aging parent while raising your own children can be a daunting task. But this is one challenge you don’t have to face alone, as Veronica Sibley reminds us.
In the last couple of years, I found myself in a completely different situation when it came to the relationship with my parents. There was a clear role reversal that took place, where I am now the responsible party. The emotional strain of juggling multiple roles led to fatigue, impacting my mental and physical health over time. Coordinating care with my sibling and navigating family roles created tension among us.
One of the most difficult aspects of managing care is an inability of my mother to accept help. She feels she doesn’t need assistance, when in actuality, she could benefit greatly from support as she has been the main caregiver for my stepfather, who suffered a stroke seven years ago.
I found the need to hire a care manager to help support their health care plans due to my inability to travel and visit every month. This third-party addition was more acceptable to my mother. As an industry professional I am quite familiar with this scenario and now I’m living the experience myself.
Caring for aging parents while raising your own family is one of life’s greatest balancing acts. Known as the “sandwich generation,” millions of adult children are navigating the dual responsibilities of caring for loved ones and their immediate family. This can often lead to emotional, physical and financial stress, as well as the question many find themselves asking: “How do I do this?”