Family
We all want to maintain our family relationships. Family is one of those great things about life. You know you can always count on them to help, to be there for you in bad times and in good. Aging however can take its toll on relationships.
Stresses brought on by care giving can be traumatic for those involved. The financial questions and issues of living situations can be stressful on marriages, siblings and parents as they wade through the constant changes and circumstances.
For the sandwich generation, looking to retire themselves, yet burdened with caring for their own children and parents, access to relevant, timely and easily implemented advice is very important.
Our family section provides information on important topics related to home care, living choices and relationships with aging parents.
Choosing the facility for a parent either with them for for them is not an easy task.
Would having a list of pertinent questions be helpful? Shelley Webb has a great list. ... Read them here
A (true) Boomer Fairy Tale - Lessons Learned About Accessibility
Once upon a time a young, healthy baby boomer couple purchased a three-story castle that had no elevator. They loved their spacious new, modern home! But knowing they wouldn’t live in it for many years, they chose not to modify it. After all, they were relatively active! The stairs were no problem, and offered great exercise.... Read the rest of the story
Learning to accept your parents aging - a lesson in life
If asked for the most universal issue I've encountered during my career as a Case Manager, I would have to say that it's the difficulty families have in accepting the physical and mental changes in their aging loved ones..... Read the rest of the story
Striking a Balance: Eldercare and the Workplace
From ChangingAging.org and Dr. Bill Thomas
Earlier this year Dr. Bill and Dr. Judah Ronch, dean of the Erickson School at UMBC, came up with a wonderful idea to partner with UMBC’s Wellness in the Workplace program to create a workshop dedicated to the issues of aging, eldercare and work life.
Unfortunately, few people find themselves fully prepared when they are first faced with a caregiving situation for an aging parent or loved one. Family dynamics are upturned, difficult choices must be made, all while maintaining order in your personal and professional life. Bill and Judah held their first “Eldercare and the Workplace” workshop to a packed audience in February, accompanied by Erickson M.A. in Aging Services alumnus Steve Gurney ’08, founder and publisher of the regional publication – Guide to Retirement Living.
They also appeared on our local NPR call-in radio program, Midday with Dan Rodricks, for a spirited hour-long discussion on aging and eldercare. You can listen to a podcast of the program here.
I captured some of the workshop on video and edited down some of the highlights, below: