Do you remember a time when you were young and apprehensive, anxious, or afraid of something? Did you talk to your parents about it? Did they say something along the lines of “it’s okay” or “you’ll be fine”? If you’re like me, that’s all it took because early on in life my parents established themselves as my protector, my rock, and my guardian.
And although children grow up, move away, and have their own families, a parent will always subconsciously do everything in their power to protect their children physically and mentally. That last part is important with what I am going to talk about today.
Parenting changes throughout the years. In the beginning, the focus is on protecting children from falls, breaks, choking hazards, and anything else dangerous. And as they get a little older the protection gravitates toward wanting to protect their feelings as they navigate adolescence. In early adulthood, the focus may be more on financial stability and being a shoulder to lean on when they need to talk. And then, once they have their own children and you become a grandparent, you rarely think about your children at all!
And as this journey unfolds, there becomes a point in life when the activities of daily life become more difficult. And a parent wants to protect their grown children from themselves. They avoid discussing the difficulties they’re experiencing because they don’t want to burden them or make them afraid.
And this got me thinking about a situation I see far too often around this time of year…
A child may call their parents daily or weekly on the phone – the conversations are geared towards work, the grandkids and life happenings. Then when the holidays come around, and they get together in person, mom or dad forgets something important or a tradition they have done for years and an odd bruise on their arm is noticed. This is brushed off as a one-time occurrence and when the day is over, life goes back to normal. Fall ends and winter quickly swooshes in with additional opportunities to celebrate together as a family. These visits bring more signs of alarm: additional bruises or forgetfulness that causes concern.
At this point, families then reach out to learn about caregiving options for their loved one. There is a definite fear of leaving them alone for long periods of time and the need feels emergent. While MB HomeCare is always right here to assist families with whatever they need, sadly some people don’t get the help and care they need in time and end up losing their independence altogether.
Our goal at MB is to provide everyone with the opportunity to age in place and live life to the fullest. Early detection for help is the best course of action. We offer resources on our website to help navigate the options that may work best for you or your loved ones. We are always available to provide a free consultation if you are interested in learning more. Contact us today to begin the conversation to help your family member or friend maintain their independence.
-Steve
