| Caring for aging parents can take many forms. | | | | contribution to yourself, and to your elderly |
| For some grown children, that care may be as | | | | parents, you may be paying a price. Caregivers |
| simple as mowing a lawn a couple of times a | | | | do suffer from anxiety and depression. Some |
| month. Others may need to drive their elderly | | | | resent the burden, but then feel guilt over the |
| parents to the grocery store or make sure that | | | | resentment. You may also be missing time from |
| financial matters have been attended to and bills | | | | work, just as you do when you have to stay |
| are paid. Still others may have to help attend to | | | | home because a child is ill. Some employers are |
| basic daily needs of infirm parents. Some grown | | | | friendly towards adult custodians of elderly |
| children may have actually reversed roles with | | | | parents, but some employees have not |
| their parents, and now they are the cooks, maids, | | | | progressed to that point yet. This can be a |
| and sitters. | | | | source of additional stress. |
| If you have taken up this role, then you are | | | | Of course, you want to be a responsible adult |
| certainly not alone. The informal, unpaid caregiving | | | | child, and since you love your parents, you do |
| duties are valued at over 3 billion dollars in the US. | | | | want to make sure they are well cared for. |
| The value of this contribution totals up to more | | | | However, you will not do anybody good in the |
| than Medicaid spending for long term care. This | | | | long term if you do not accept some help when |
| does take the pressure off of government | | | | you need it. If you are feeling the strain, do not |
| programs. You may feel as if you are just doing | | | | be afraid to look into sources of help. Services |
| your duty to the people who dedicated a good | | | | are out there, from counseling to home health |
| part of their lives to bring you up, but you should | | | | care professionals to adult day cares. If you can |
| also take a moment to pat yourself on your | | | | release some of the burden, your relationship with |
| back. Even though you may not believe your | | | | your charges will improve, and everybody will be |
| contribution is noticed, believe me, it has been. | | | | happier in the long run. |
| But even though you are providing a valuable | | | | |