“Something’s wrong—changed—with your dad,” Tony Bear said. “He’s not as social as he used to be. Not as talkative. And when you ask him a question, he does this thing where he turns it around and asks you the question.” I’m embarrassed to say, it was my husband—not me, not my mother—who first recognized my father’s cognitive […]
Aging Parents 102: A Little Help Please (Make that, a lot)
The Inciting Incident One evening during July 2015, my guys and I returned from a parade downtown to find three messages on the answering machine. They all said the same thing: My mother had fallen at home and been transported to the hospital in her town, 45 minutes away. I packed a bag and drove […]
Taking Care of Aging Parents 101: A Bunch of Best Practices for Them (and for You)
“Just when you think life may be getting easier because your children are almost grown, you have to start taking care of your aging parents.” –Cathy W. Cathy W. was the first person who responded to my request for tips on elder care. Her words were the first drops in what became a downpour of […]
The Mother Who Cried Wolf (Or, How We Convinced Mom It Was Time for Assisted Living)
“A shepherd-boy who watched a flock of sheep near a village brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, ‘Wolf! Wolf!’ when there was no wolf…” […]
