DEAR CARALLEL: I’m 71 years old, have never been married and I don’t have any children. My sister lives in Rhode Island and while we have a good relationship, we don’t see each other much. Maybe once every few years. I heard the phrase “Solo Ager” recently and it gave me a chuckle because I guess … I love my independence! But I know things can change and I want to be prepared.
DEAR CARALLEL: I’ll make this short and sweet. I’ve been helping my mother for the past six years since her dementia started getting worse. She’s doing ok and for the most part I am too I guess. Except that I’m really not ok because I’m sick and tired of this emotional roller coaster! I’m always on … Any advice on how to handle the emotional roller coaster?
DEAR CARALLEL: I’ve recently realized how much help my mother and father need and I’m overwhelmed. They are 79 and 83 respectively and until these last few weeks, I thought they were in good health and doing just fine. Sure, they slowed down a bit in recent years, especially dad, but I thought that seemed normal … I’m new to this. Where do I start?
DEAR CARALLEL: My mother moved in with me a couple of years ago after she had a stroke. Her recovery has been slow but steady and we are chugging along. While she’s not back to the way she was before the stroke, Mom has regained her speech and a good portion of her mobility. She’s come … How can I encourage her to do more on her own?
DEAR CARALLEL: Mom moved in a few years ago when Dad died and it’s been rocky from the get-go. We’ve always been close but having Mom living in the house has tested us both. She’s 84 and even though she’s slowed down a bit, she’s still sharp and really values her independence. On the one hand … She agreed to move but how do we pick the right Assisted Living community?
DEAR CARALLEL: My father is 86 years old and as independent as they come. He’s sharp mentally but unsteady on his feet. I live six hours away and while he’s finally agreed to let me bring in outside help for him a few times a week, I’m afraid he’ll fall when nobody is there. What can I do … What can I do to keep him safe at home?
DEAR CARALLEL: I’m sixty-five and my partner is seventy-one. We got together later in life and our first 6 years together were like a dream. We bought our perfect little condo, traveled often, and were active as could be. A bicycle accident a couple of years ago changed things. It sparked a chain of events … I think I might scream the next time someone tells me to take care of myself.
DEAR CARALLEL: My parents moved to Scottsdale, AZ sixteen years ago after Dad retired. They were done with the cold winters and wanted to be closer to my sister and her kids. Dad died suddenly two years ago and since then my sister has been taking care of our mother. Mom has kidney disease and hasn’t … I want to help my sister but don’t know how I can from here.
DEAR CARALLEL: My dad is 81 years old. He’s a happy guy. Still works out a few times a week and goes to coffee just about every morning. My sister and her family live 20 minutes down the road and I’m a couple hours north. I was recently in town for a visit. Dad seemed like … I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like his car had been in a Nascar race.
DEAR CARALLEL: My husband and I are retirees in our mid to late 70’s and all things considered, we’re in pretty good health. We have no way of knowing how long that will last but make it a point to do what we can to keep it that way by taking our daily walk and making … Medication is so expensive! What can I do to lower my costs?