I ran across an interesting blog on “Katie’s Take” recently called, “Parenting our Parents.” It highlighted the need for increased communication between adult children and their older parents. One of the most helpful insights shared was to focus on interdependence between the generations rather than focusing on the independence/dependence continuum. While parents may need help from their children, for many it is hard to admit and accept this. However, when the children let their parents know they value their parents’ wisdom, life experience stories, and family history information, the parents are giving as well as receiving, and it makes it easier to receive help from their children.
The link to view “Parenting Our Parents” is listed below. It may be helpful to have everyone in the family view it as an ice-breaker to begin talking about how your family can work together to support elderly parents in a way that everyone wins.
John Reese
Elder Care Coordinator