Ways to Stay Sane Caring For an Elderly Parent 1. Accept that things have changed. When a parent starts in any way depending upon their child, a world has turned upside down. Be prepared for that radically new paradigm. 2. Take it slowly. Taking care of an elderly parent is generally a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush it. You and they both are in uncharted territory. 3. Expect nothing emotionally. At the end phase of their life, your parent might open up to you emotionally... and spiritually; they might express for you the love that, for whatever reason, they haven’t before. 4. Expect their anger. When you start taking care of your parent, they lose the one thing theyve always had in relationship to you: authority. 5. Ask their advice. A great way to show your parent love and respect—and, especially, to affirm for them that they are still of true value to you—is to sincerely ask them for advice about something going on in your life. 6. Prepare for sibling insanity. Expect the worst from your sibling/s. For perfectly understandable reasons, many people go positively bonkers when their parents start to age. 7. Take care of yourself. It’s so easy to surrender to the care of your ageing parent more of your life than you should. But you serve well neither yourself nor them if you fail to take walks; to stretch out; to eat right; to make sure you spend quality time away from them. 8. Talk to a friend. If you have a friend with whom you can regularly meet and talk, or even chat with on the phone, do it. During this time the input and love of a friend is invaluable to you. 9. Have fun. One of the things we most need in life is the one thing we most readily jettison once we begin caring for an elderly parent: fun. Fun! Have some! Have lots! 10. Pray/meditate. Life doesnt offer a lot that’s more emotionally salient or complex than caring for an ageing parent. Accordingly, then, open yourself up to God, whatever that might mean to you.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 03:55:29 +0000
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