From vantage points of rockers, chairs, and benches residents and guests in senior communities can breathe fresh air in South Florida or countless other alternate living accommodations across the country. Onlookers become immune to emergency vehicles; when faced with emergency they are grateful to the medic team for transfer to the nearest medical center.
Emergencies know no boundaries. Responses come at the most inopportune time - while caregivers are packing for a short or long-awaited trip, during traditional holiday dinners, dressing for graduation or one week after return from a parent who now exhibits different behavior.
Last week's phone call to my mother's line brought comfort with description of a grandson's visit, reminiscing through family albums.
This week, with stattaco emails sharing my mother's emergency hospital stay, dismantling of her apartment, and decision making for another stop on her journey, I know not to call. I can only hope that someone will read the Mother's Day message I posted a few days ago as the card shop lacked the words to express the gratitutde for every opportunity I had been given.
Distance, early retirement, and maintenance of my home that has been on and off the market for four years have fostered challenges in long-distance caregiving. I am grateful for my siblings' devotion the past 18 years and do what I can in communicating through reminiscing with my mother. Everyone has a talent in the caregiving pyramid. Please take a minute to comment and share your long distance or dominant caregiving experience.
We plan and God laughs. 
When it comes to caring for your parents, there are a lot of different issues to deal with. By taking the time to find resources that are available, it will be much easier for you to get the outcome that you are searching for. Of course, the way that you go about caring for your parents says it all. In a recent blog I wrote about senior safety and health, I talked about the relationship between parents and children when the roles are reversed. Caring for your parents can be a very stressful situation and you really have to make sure that you are doing whatever it takes to make things right. 
There are so many different resources out there that you can benefit from. You can find local groups in your neighborhood, support groups online, and plenty of informational resources like this blog right here to help you get the most from your situation. It doesn't matter if you are taking care of your parents full time or if you are just trying to keep an eye on whether they need your help or not, because education is always the most important tool in your success. 
