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One day, it became apparent that my parents were starting to noticeably age. They weren't moving around as quickly. Everyday tasks became increasingly harder, and mom and dad were clearly outside of their comfort zones. That day, my sister and I turned to each other with blank stares asking, "What do we do?" I found countless resources on every subject in the book. But there wasn't a "roadmap" of any kind to help me navigate the issues we were about to face. Often the information I found was either too technical or it assumed that we had already decided what to do. Also, I never knew if I was getting only part of the story, or if the information even applied to our situation. When it came time to take an active role in supporting my parents’ decisions or making decisions on their behalf, I felt even less certain about what to do. What I really needed was to take a step back, realize the range of issues we were about to face, understand the alternatives and pros and cons of each, and see how one decision might affect another. As I look back, we did some things right. But we also failed to take the most appropriate action in several cases. Some of our mistakes were costly both financially and emotionally. With a little guidance, much of our frustration could have been avoided. My father died at the age of 79 in March of 1997 after a four year struggle with Leukemia. My mother died in November of 2001 at the age of 70. She had a number of health complications including dementia and rheumatoid arthritis. Everything I write and speak about reflects not only my personal experience but also the collective experiences of thousands of people I have come across over the years who have shared their successes, struggles and frustrations. I have done extensive reading and research to make sure everything I say or suggest is evidence based. Also, there is no bias. I’m not getting commissions for recommending any specific products or services. My hope is that your journey down the bumpy road of aging and caregiving issues will be smooth and, more importantly, that you feel confident in your decisions knowing you're doing all you can. I am personally committed to providing these resources in the hope that no one will ever feel lost and frustrated facing the many issues associated with aging. Puchta lives in |
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