by kathy howard
WWW.KATHYHOWARD.ORG
caring for caregivers
VOICES PENETRATED THE HEAVY SHROUD OF SLEEP. I CHECKED MY PHONE. TWO O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I COULD HEAR THE ANXIETY IN MOM AND DAD’S CONVERSATION, BUT I COULDN’T MAKE OUT THE WORDS. I threw back the covers and stumbled across the hall to their room. Dad lay on the floor beside the bed. I managed to get him sitting, but no matter how much I tried, I could not get him off the floor and back in the bed. My husband, Wayne, was stirring in the other room, so I called for help. Together we got Dad up and settled back in bed. Thankfully, Dad only suffered a few bumps and bruises. But his fall dramatically reminded me I can’t care for my parents without help. No one prepared me to care for my aging parents. And yet, here I am, struggling to navigate the family rolereversal.
22 leadinghearts.com
