Last year, I was watching a Hallmark holiday movie that referenced the quote, "It takes a village to raise a child." It struck me that it should also take a village to care for our aging loved ones. I wondered why we, as a society, aren't acknowledging the increasing need to support our precious elderly and those who care for them.
Caretakers assume the difficult responsibility (and loving privilege) of caring for an aging loved one, yet oftentimes, no one cares for the caretaker. Caretaking can be an isolating endeavor. While the number of adult children who are caring for an aging parent has increased exponentially as our Baby Boomer population has grown older, distance often separates this peer group, which makes them feel alone. These adult daughters and sons—who either balance their careers with caregiving or leave the workforce altogether to care for a parent—may not have a social support group to encourage them during this stressful stage of life.
Caretakers are close to my heart, and building an online community where they can connect, support one another, share helpful tips, and discuss pertinent topics became an essential component of Beach Barrister. Sometimes, just knowing there are others experiencing the same circumstances can help. To learn more about adult children who care for their aging parents, check out our Elder Law article, "You're Not Alone: The Sandwich Generation of Caregivers," in the Articles Gallery on our Learning Center page!
Are you an adult child who is caring for an aging parent or loved one? What difficulties are you experiencing? If you've been a caregiver to a parent, do you have any tips for others? Thank you for sharing!❤️