Aging parents : helping when health fails

Abstract

Adults often find an aging parent needs support at a time when their own lives and responsibilities are the most complicated. You may feel pulled in several directions—raising your children, being supportive to a spouse, helping parents, and/or working outside the home—all at the same time. It’s not unusual to wonder “Why me?” or to ask yourself “What about my life?” If your parent is 80 or older, you may be adjusting to your own age-related changes—retirement, reduced income, widowhood, or decreased health—and may not be able to provide the assistance your parent needs. The following guidelines may help to reduce the strain.