Now I am 86 and almost blind. I cannot read the bills that come in the mail nor sign my own checks. I must be escorted to medical appointments. My busy children are kind beyond measure, but I am uncomfortable in these situations. And being uncomfortable makes me sharp and unpleasant.
The challenges of living with and caring for an aging loved one can be stressful, for all involved. You have to remember, just as it is difficult to provide care, it is not an easy thing to be the one receiving the care either. Over and above all the medical issues, the time crunches, or the money concerns, oftentimes it is the emotional issues (and even the fighting) that can wear on you.
What you need is a little bit of empathy.
In the name of empathy, then, especially as we sit down with our loved ones for the holidays – a trying time for some – consider a recent piece reported in The New York Times titled “A Very Ungrateful Old Lady“.
In this instance, the “old lady” is none other than Sheila Solomon Klass. She is an English professor and a blogging grandma at the seasoned age of 86. Nevertheless, Klass is someone’s elderly loved one, too.
As the title of her essay suggests, Klass considers herself a burden and confesses that she is not always good about expressing her gratitude, without expressing frustration instead.
As you click over to her original essay, think about yourself and your own loved ones. A little dose of empathy can go a long ways.
Reference: The New York Times – The New Old Age Blog (November 8, 2013) “A Very Ungrateful Old Lady”
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