What turns us into caregivers?

man in wheelchair

For Mary, it was when she began taking her dad to doctor visits. For Janice, it was when she began helping her mom in the bathroom. For John, it was when his parent’s overdrawn bank account forced him to start handling their financial affairs. For my sister, it was when my mom needed help showering my dad. That’s when each one of them identified as caregivers. Whether helping with personal care, running the household, assisting with financial transactions, managing medications, driving or helping an aging loved one to deal with escalating emotional or physical challenges, baby boomers are at the tipping point of the caregiving tidal wave. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, 1 in 3 American households includes a caregiver. So why is it that many of those caring for an aging loved one don’t see themselves as caregivers but simply as “good children”? Author Nancy Mattia says self-identifying as a caregiver can make a huge difference in how that role affects a...
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