Raising Mother

Baby Boomers Trade Childcare for Parent Care

Dave escaped yesterday. It took three buses and a train to get him back to Gig Harbor from Ilwaco, but he made his escape and under the circumstances I cannot blame him, only wish I would have been able to go, too.

My mother is ill and I am wending my way through American medicine and health care and the disposition of the elderly. I know I am not alone. We Baby Boomers have raised our children, are nearing retirement and would like to enjoy our grandchildren, but a new responsibility has replaced childrearing—care for aging parents.
This experience has been made needlessly harder from the beginning. I have dubbed it “St. Elsewhere of the Coast.” From the failure of the ambulance attendants to properly asses my mother when her medical security system called them—the first time—to the hospital’s decision to release her there has been frustration in getting her the help she needs.

If this subject interests you, read the rest of the story on my View from My Broom blog.