Taking Care of our Parents – Sandwich Generation

I’ve been back and forth from my home to where my parents live for weeks and months and years, depending on their health and wellness.  I’ve always considered it an honor and my good fortune to have both of my parents alive.  They’ve been married nearly 60 years and as a divorced mother of four of my own children, that has also been inspirational to me.

What I haven’t been prepared for, nor is it really possible to understand that when one’s health begins to decline, what is the correct manner in which to handle that situation?

My poor father fell while putting on his clothing and suffered a spiral femur fracture in June 2013.  He has been bedridden since that time, in and out of hospitals, having a variety of surgical procedures and finally last fall the palliative care physicians discharged him to medical hospice in their home.

Watching my mother keep vigil, attend to every need of his, juggling the health care appointments at their home, transport vehicles for procedures not able to be performed at their home, PT, OT, wound doctors, nurses, care providers – it is daunting!

My father was given 2 weeks to 2 months to live, he’s now closing out his 7th month after that prognosis.  The human spirit and the desire to live, no matter what the indignity is inspirational!