When One Parent Dies the Other Often Needs a Caregiver

Long-term marriages generally evolve into a support system so efficient that even adult children hardly notice changes in their parents. If Dad's hearing is poor, Mom becomes his ears. If Mom's arthritis is bad, Dad becomes her muscle. If one of them has memory loss, the other fills in the gaps so smoothly that it's barely noticeable to onlookers. Then, either Mom or Dad dies. The person remaining suddenly is more frail and needy than anyone would have expected. The surviving spouse is suffering the loss of their life partner, a shock from which they may never completely recover. Also, the person who filled in the gaps is gone, and those gaps can suddenly look like chasms. Read full column on Agingcare about helping the survivor get back to life: Support a caregiver or jump-start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders of Minding Our Elders e-mail Carol   Terrific Christmas gift! Related articles Touchy Sibling Communication About Alzheimer's May Benefit from Professional Input (Minding Our Elders®) 6 Potentially Reversible Conditions That Can Mimic Dementia (Minding Our Elders®)                Related StoriesTouchy Sibling Communication About Alzheimer’s May Benefit from Professional Input6 Potentially Reversible Conditions That Can Mimic DementiaCommunicating with Elders Who Cannot Speak 
Source: Minding Our Elders - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: blogs