There is a question we all have to ask ourselves, and the answer we give will shape the rest of our lives.
That question is: how much care should we give to our ageing parents?
For some, the answer is easy. For others, it’s a curly problem – one that’s rarely thought about when we’re younger.
In the early days, our lives are full. Work, holidays, a new house, busy social lives, sporting hobbies, more holidays – maybe even a cruise or two. And then one day you realise you’re nearly 60.
You’ve lived such a busy life that time has simply flown by.
Your kids are nearing 30, and suddenly you hear the words many have said to you over the years: “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?”
But there’s a small thing you may not have thought about very much – your ageing parents.
By now, they’re likely in their late 70s/early 80s. Some may still be active and independent; others may already be starting to decline and need a helping hand. The question is: do you have a plan for them – or do they have a plan for themselves – for the rest of their lives?
This is where things get tricky.
How do you even approach the subject with your ageing parents? When is the right time to bring it up? Or is it simply too hard to talk about right now?
Think back to their early days, in their thirties and forties.
Life was different then. Families were generally larger.
There were fewer hospitals. Doctors came to you when you were sick.
But today, who looks after those who can no longer look after themselves?
Governments want to help people stay in their own homes, offering aged care packages designed to suit individual needs.
But sometimes, that help simply isn’t enough.
Over the next few weeks, this column will delve into some of the problems that can arise from time to
time – seen through older eyes.
