Elder care. Phew. I’m struggling.
There is no crisis, and for that I’m grateful, but I am finding this whole in-between stage with my dad really difficult.
It doesn’t feel dissimilar to grief in that there is nothing, actually, to be done but I’m still struggling. We’re busy navigating what happens next – trying to be mindful of everyone and aware of priorities and values and daily life and how he wants to write the last chapter of his life, while at the same time facing up to hard truths.
It’s a lot to hold at once.
He has a 1 in 4 chance of another stroke this year, which also means that I am mindful that every conversation or exchange could be our last.
My sense is that this is, just, difficult. This life stage that has appeared on the horizon – elder care – is just hard, and something to live through. Nothing to solve, just take it day by day, breath by breath.
And at the same time, the opposite of struggling feels like letting go – and I do need to let go of the fact that there isn’t a happy ending for this. That feels hard, and new. There’s no magical solution here.
Any tips from those who have been-there done-that most gratefully welcomed!
For now, deep breath in, deep breath out.
#grief #griefjourney #eldercare #elderly
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