One of the benefits of being a senior citizen these days is the joy of admitting we have a lot yet to learn. We don’t have to prove ourselves any longer. We can just be ourselves, open to learning whatever new behaviors and insights happen to come along our way.

Such is the case with our most recent caregiving experience. It was actually the first time we had taken on the responsibility of care for another human being. I had always insisted I wasn’t a nurse and didn’t want to be one. But when faced with the choice of caring for my 93 year old mother-in-law in our home, I didn’t hesitate. She had been a loving and caring person all her life; it was time for that love and care to be returned to her in her last days.

Jerry has been writing the past couple of weeks about death and dying, loss of loved ones and the importance of family and friends when one is in grief. His mother, Hazel, died Thursday, April 11, 2013. She lived in our home these past six months, with Jerry and Sharon being the primary caregivers. Hospice accepted Hazel in to their tender and competent care in late October, 2012.

More than a year ago, Hazel requested that we take her into our home when we knew death was approaching. She wanted to be cared for by Hospice and us, and she wanted to die in our home. Our agreement was an easy one because we participated in caring for Sharon’s mother 30 years ago, and

Financial Impact of Caregiving The call came just as we were preparing for bed.  Mother, age 92, was in severe pain in her right leg.  Tylenol hadn’t done a thing for her.  We needed stronger medications.  We talked with the nursing home staff in charge, and they agreed to call her primary care physician to [...]