Are there any single 50 yrs and older caring for their parents?

I'm 55, the youngest in my family, and somehow I became the responsible one/family caregiver. I moved in with my sister to help her with childcare when her first child was born, then helped my bro with his kids and through his battle with cancer, then came home to stay with my mom when she had mobility issues from sciatica and degenerated discs and I am still looking after her year later. I think part of my problem is that I always lived one day at a time and didn't ever have any real goals for myself, trusting that life would somehow fall into place. So one day I woke up and said "WTF, I'm ___ yrs old and haven't done anything"! My advice would be to find your passion and strive toward it, no matter what your age. I'm still working on that one myself...

Keep reading on this site and you will find dozens of people in this situation. After you have read your fill of this site, start in on travel literature and apply for a passport!

I am way over 50 and a caregiver. My experience and advice is don't try to find an opportunity for a little vacation or some time off. Just announce that you are doing it . Period. And then go.

Thanks for everyone's response!! I am so glad that I found this site. I love my mother but I am just tired of always having to do for others. It would be nice for someone to do something for me wifhout having to ask. It's nice to know that I am not alone.

I am almost 54 (in October) and I live with my father who will be 97 in October. He wants constant companionship so I don't have much time to much for myself. I am single and don't have any close friends here. I am very unskilled at making friends anyway, I hope someday I can learn how to make some good ones. I am exceptionally good with plants and animals but humans not so much! LOL

It is not too late to focus on something that makes you happy

I'm 55 years old. I've been the caregiver for children on vacation, sick grandparents, and now parents as well. That's what I do and I do it well. Everyone relies on me for any care giving duties. I have given up my job (but I do housekeeping on the side still) and am taking care of my step-mom who has stage 4 lung cancer. Although I do have children they are grown up and out of the house. Yes, it's a lot that you give up when taking care of a family member. I know for me my social life was busy, I do craft things to make extra money, my grandkids are a very important and I spend a lot time with them. Now I rarely get to spend time with them or socialize with anyone except the people at the drs offices. I had a melt down not long ago because I really missed my grandkids and hadn't spent any time with them so finally someone gave me a break so I could but it took a meltdown for that to happen. I get what you are saying loud and clear.

Thanks Ismiami.

I'm fifty-five and when ever there is a family crisis I too get called upon because I'm single and caregiving is what I do for a living. It's getting hard for me to ask for free time. Everyone else who can help always has a busy schedule. I too would like some me time, so don't feel alone.

Yes I am over 50 and had to move in to care for my elderly mom. I've been here now for 6 years. My brother has also moved in a couple years ago while I went back to school. As soon as I graduated my mom's condition was diagnosed dementia/alzheimer, she was always hard to get along with but now she cusses me out weekly. It hurts so bad to care for someone who does not want you to care for her. My brother moving in has not helped at all, now they are both picking fights with me, all the time. I feel like why do I bother. When I moved in with her I was 55 years old and at the end of the year I will be turning 60 and I feel like my life is over. I have no friends and family to support me, I have not left my moms house over night in 5 years. I love my mother that is the reason I'm here and the fact that I feel God would want me to be here but I don't know how much more I can take. I can't get her to sign POA, she told me I do not need anyone taking care of me plus she said I do not like you and I wish you would get out of my house. I feel trapped. I'm at the library today cause she told me to get out of her house, so I left, this is the only freedom I have.