I am 63. When I was 27, my grandmother died. I was sad, and disappointed because I thought she might one day live with me. I never realized that opportunity.I think of this now because the 27 yr old me did not even consider what it would cost or how I would make it happen. I did not consider the physical or emotional toll of possibly caregiving for an elder. My mother had grown up with her grandmother living with the family, and that just seemed the natural course. I am sharing this now because I see so many other people, some quite young, struggling with this family dynamic. There are differing opinions and very real lifestyle questions, which when I was young, I never even considered. I suppose I would have found a way to work it out.Some have the capacity and the ability, financially, physically, emotionally, to provide care to their important family members. Some are scared because they lack the financial, physical, or emotional resources to provide for their loved ones. No one opinion is right. Or wrong. We all do the best we can do in our circumstances. No matter what your role is, we have a forum of experienced, caring caregivers to provide support and advice.
