Helping my cousins through caregiving is giving me a new perspective. I'm finally giving myself credit for caring for my mom.
The author reflects on her experience as a long-term caregiver for her mother and how she is now supporting her cousins through similar challenges. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and acknowledging the emotional labor involved in eldercare.
Why it matters
With an aging global population, the personal and systemic challenges of eldercare are becoming increasingly relevant to families and social policy.
The author has a big family, and is now talking some of her cousins through caregiving. Courtesy of Lorraine Duffy Merkl Many of my cousins are starting to care for their aging parents and relatives. I'm walking them through the process, as I went through it with my mom. It's given me a new perspective and I'm finally giving myself credit for my time as a caregiver. Sometimes it feels like I'm working an eldercare hotline. My younger cousins are now where I was several years ago, caring for parents and relatives who can no longer care for themselves. Make no mistake, I love them, and I'm happy to walk them through it all. The mind-numbing healthcare calls that turn into a literal game of telephone.
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