My Parents are Getting Older
@jillybean1222 (6408)
July 2, 2016 10:16pm CST
We are visiting my parents today for the holiday weekend. My mom told me that she's been concerned about some health issues with my dad.
My dad, at nearly 76, has always seemed so healthy. But... he's started moving a lot more slowly. And mom says there's just a few other things she's noticing.
I didn't want my mom to see the tears in my eyes after she told me her worries about my dad. I turned my head until they passed, but I really wanted to cry like a baby.
I've already suffered the worst loss imaginable with the loss of my thirteen year old son. I don't want to think about losing my parents too, not now. It's too soon after losing Nolan.
I worry about them getting along in years. Their home isn't very "elderly" friendly. I'm not sure what they'll do in the future. There are steps to their bedroom. There's a couple steps down into the "extra" room that could ultimately become their bedroom if necessary. I just don't see this being a good home for them if their health truly starts to fail.
I hate all the worries that go along with life. I miss the carefree days of my youth when I didn't think about this stuff.
18 people like this
17 responses
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
3 Jul 16
I try to see my 85 year old dad and his 94 year old wife every month. I do worry about them. I understand where you are coming from on this.
4 people like this
@paigea (35828)
• Canada
3 Jul 16
Too many worries. Hopefully your dad's current health issues can be dealt with. Start to check out if there are grants for making the house more "elderly" friendly. Get them to think about what they need to do. I think about what we need to do as we get older. Our house is good in that it has everything on one floor. basically we never need to go to the basement. But it has big steps to get into it. Anyway stuff to think about and we all need to do it.
3 people like this
@darksinistar (42)
• United States
8 Jul 16
I can certainly understand how you feel. I feel like I am watching the greatest man I have ever known deteriorate before my eyes with my dad. It is heartbreaking and hard to watch and yet I do not want to give up a single second of the time we have left.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
9 Jul 16
I can always tell from what you have written just how much you love your dad! it's good you can spend so much time with him.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
9 Jul 16
I am the elderly parent now and I know my kids worry about me and their dad and some of it is justified I'm afraid.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jul 16
@jillybean1222 I certainly look after my kids and they are all in their 40's
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
9 Jul 16
it's definitely a hard transition in life. i still feel like my parents help me and look after me at times and i am 46 years old
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
3 Jul 16
I didn't want my sons to worry about that so we moved into a retirement friendly home last year. We didn't need to yet, but the longer we waited the harder it would be to move. Slowing down is normal. Hopefully that's all it is.
2 people like this
@sunilparthan (6283)
• India
3 Jul 16
Yes everyone is getting older now. We too. We should take care of our parents when they are old. They take care of us till now.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
3 Jul 16
@jillybean1222 Yes,those are genuine worries you have.I do hope he could cope for some more years.You will have to think about making that house more 'elderly' friendly.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9041)
• United States
13 Jul 16
I hope you can put your worries aside and just enjoy him while he is here. You never know what the future holds. Have some good quality time with both of them. They have some retirement community's that sound really fun, I am ready to move into one! Maybe that is an answer to down the road.
@JamesHxstatic (29362)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jul 16
You dad is only a year older than I. I have been very lucky with my health, still able to work a stand-up retail part-time job. I hope that he has good docs who can help him and your mom. My only daughter, soon to be 28, still looks to me sometimes for help and advice. I need to be around another 20 years or so.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
4 Jul 16
yes, i know your daughter needs you just like i still need my dad! here's hoping for at least another 20 years for both of you!
1 person likes this
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
8 Jul 16
It's hard seeing our parents age, maybe someone can build ramps for them so they don't have to do the stairs, or put in hand rails?
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
9 Jul 16
yes, maybe they have thought of these things. they have a very small house. i don't know what they will do
1 person likes this
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
2 Oct 16
@jillybean1222 glad to see your concern about your parents , I feel like I got too busy turning younger that I was about to forget that my parents are getting older. I visit my parents once in 3 to 4 months and every single visit makes me feel that they have turned older than the last recent visit, but the age factor is irreversible , we can`t do anything.
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
7 Jul 16
It's hard to know what to say. You are fortunate to still have your parents. Hopefully you won't lose either one any time soon.
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
6 Jul 16
Aging parents are a worry I know. I hope that things don't get too bad for them and that they are both able to enjoy life for many years to come.
I have had concerns for my husband for at least 10 years now (he's 85), but he's still here and in good spirits, if not the best of health.
