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The other day I was standing in line at the grocery store and a boomer-aged woman uttered to the check out lady, “thank God the holidays are over…I’m exhausted.” The holidays, while they offer an important pause for Americans, are often emotionally charged for many families. This is especially true for boomers, who as “sandwich generation” caretakers are encountering unfamiliar and sensitive terrain as they simultaneously attempt to care for young adult children returning back from their first semester at college and older parents, who are stubbornly (yet understandably) refusing to give up their car keys, get a hearing aid or visit a financial planner.
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Boomers are caring for two groups who are at once trying to be too grown up or, denying how grown up they really are (and turning down needed support). How can boomers help their older parents get the assistance they need? For many, it’s a question they continue scratching their head to answer until it’s too late (an older parent gets into a big car accident, or discovers he/she doesn’t have enough savings for nursing care).
There is one key step that boomers can take to nip these issues in the bud. It starts with having a (sometimes difficult) conversation with a parent who may need assistance, but is nervous about facing reality. Making time to do this will save your family a lot of heartache in the end though…perhaps another New Year’s resolution to add to your list.
Resources:
Amanda Sobanet
Comments (3)
My mom is a baby boomer and she is 60 years old and puts money away every month to have a nurse come into her home when she can’t take care of herself anymore. At first I thought it was wasted money…but not so much anymore. I feel it is necessary to start putting money away for long term health care...sooner than later. What are Baby Boomers to do, due to the shortage in Nursing care?
See article on Dailycents.com at http://blogs.dailycents.com/?p=803
Posted by mel | January 11, 2008 6:16 PM
Posted on January 11, 2008 18:16
Role reversal is difficult for all concerned. It is painful for parents to give up their independence and for their adult children to face the fact that their aging parents can no longer care for themselves in the same way.
Posted by Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. | January 11, 2008 9:46 PM
Posted on January 11, 2008 21:46
The key to this tsunami is early
education. People need to start
understanding what it means to grow
older. If not everything we do will
be in a crisis not education mode.
Posted by Anthony Cirillo | May 1, 2008 11:52 AM
Posted on May 1, 2008 11:52