I went to a large bookstore last night and found this gem smiling at me from the NEW RELEASES table:
“A Bitter-Sweet Season, Caring for Our Aging Parents, and Ourselves,” by Jane Gross.
I bought it for many reasons. Some personal. Some professional.
I spend my days advising families how to navigate the web of elder-care, elder care financing, legal issues, etc. I spend my evenings worried about a family member who requires help with ADLs, and can no longer live independently.
I have only finished the first two chapters but I am already delighted by the content.
Gross writes in the Prologue “Most often, neither the aged parents nor the adult children are prepared for this long, often tortured, time in life, or for these role reversals, which are unanticipated, unwelcome and unfamiliar.”
She goes on to say “the task is to get through it with grace, mindfulness and good sense.”
I couldn’t agree more although I have never said it so well.
We help families that have no experience with nursing homes, assisted living, paying for long term care, etc. We help them endure.
I help manage, encourage, and direct the care of a parent, too young to be disabled.
But my goal really should be to serve those in need, and ourselves during this stage “with grace, mindfulness and goodsense.”
If you are looking for resources to help you make these decisions (what kind of care is appropriate, what to do when, what questions to ask, how will you pay, etc. ) you can call our office for our free book, A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO LONGTERM CARE CHOICES IN VIRGINIA…
and I recommend you find a copy of “A Bitter-Sweet Season, Caring for Our Aging Parents and Ourselves ” today.