While your take on caregiving examines the legal ramifications, I spent three years as a "front line" caregiver to my then 89 year old mother who had Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
I am a woman, and the average stats of a caregiver is a 46 year old female, married/divorced/kids/some college/median economic range. Bingo.
I sold my business and returned home to care for my mother. Would a man have done this? Would a corporate woman have done this? I meet many who would not. A few do, but overwhelmingly, the more they've built their own lives, the less they want to take a sideline seat.
I chose to, and although it was challenging beyond belief on every level and impacted my health, realtionships, career, and evetying else--I'm glad I did it. That's part of who I am.
I'm not against facility care and sometimes it's absolutely needed, but no one will offer you the love, tenderness, affection, committment, focus, and continuity that a true loved one (not just biological family member) has to give.
Sometimes you have to do what's right for you--right at the time.
Society and corporations will be forced to reckon with caregiving in the coming years as the 10 million projected boomers face Alzheimer's--and that's just one disease that looms on the horizon.
~Carol D. O'Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon
www.mothering-mother.com
Thank you for this personal perspective, Carol.
What an insightful discussion on the economics of caregiving. Think of how much those mostly female caregivers are saving the government. In the future with all of the baby boomers taking care of their parents and their children preparing to take care of the boomers, the economic aspects will grow exponentially. I believe that there should be some form of caregiver insurance or reimbursement for the costs associated with caring for a family member. I know I cared for my aunt for 8 months so that my cousins would not have to quit their jobs or take family leave. I was afraid that their jobs would be gone if they took off the time. Women are always in a disadvantaged position when it comes to economics and protections under the laws as they are written now.
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