With medical advancements coming fast and furious and life expectancies years longer than they once were, the idea of an adult child taking on a more parental role for an elderly mother or father is becoming increasingly common.
In response to this societal trend, Auburn Memorial Hospital, the Cayuga County Office for the Aging and several members of the community are partnering to organize a network for those caring for aging parents.
The network will offer various outlets for adult children caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or are trying to figure out the logistics of long-distance caregiving, said Office for the Aging Director Nancy Siefka. There is also information for people who have healthy parents but want to learn about possible changes they may experience in the future.
“Instead of waiting until a crisis happens, you'll be somewhat prepared or you'll hear other people's stories,” Siefka said.
About 40 people have expressed an interest in joining the network, which was first suggested by employees at the hospital. The Office for the Aging connected with many potential participants April 4, when, along with AMH, it sponsored “Caring for Aging Parents: Sharing the Journey.”
At that presentation, attendees were asked to fill out surveys to determine whether or not there was any interest in networking with others caring for aging parents. From those responses, organizers will decide how best to formulate the network, which could include scheduled meetings, informational sessions, and/or contact via e-mail.
There are more than 44 million caregivers in the United States age 18 and older - many of whom also hold down jobs and take care of their own families - that provide unpaid care to an adult, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. Caring for an aging parent can be rewarding, Siefka said, but it can also be challenging. It's important for adult children to recognize that their parents still want to be as independent as possible, she said.
“We don't ever want to be parenting our parents - we're still the children,” Siefka added.
Janet Taylor, caregiver coordinator at the county's Long Term Care Access Office, has seen that communication between parent and child can be difficult, particularly when there is memory loss involved. There are also times when the elderly parents are in denial about the changes they are going through.
“The parents don't feel they have a problem, but the adult children kind of see changes,” Taylor said, citing cases of accidents in the home or a parent leaving objects in unusual places.
Taylor believes a caregiver support network will give the adult children an outlet to speak with others and obtain helpful tips.
“Caregiving is a very difficult process, a very difficult situation,” she said. “It makes it easier when people have contacts, other people to listen to them.”
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or Linda.ober@lee.net
The network will offer various outlets for adult children caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or are trying to figure out the logistics of long-distance caregiving, said Office for the Aging Director Nancy Siefka. There is also information for people who have healthy parents but want to learn about possible changes they may experience in the future.
“Instead of waiting until a crisis happens, you'll be somewhat prepared or you'll hear other people's stories,” Siefka said.
About 40 people have expressed an interest in joining the network, which was first suggested by employees at the hospital. The Office for the Aging connected with many potential participants April 4, when, along with AMH, it sponsored “Caring for Aging Parents: Sharing the Journey.”
At that presentation, attendees were asked to fill out surveys to determine whether or not there was any interest in networking with others caring for aging parents. From those responses, organizers will decide how best to formulate the network, which could include scheduled meetings, informational sessions, and/or contact via e-mail.
There are more than 44 million caregivers in the United States age 18 and older - many of whom also hold down jobs and take care of their own families - that provide unpaid care to an adult, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. Caring for an aging parent can be rewarding, Siefka said, but it can also be challenging. It's important for adult children to recognize that their parents still want to be as independent as possible, she said.
“We don't ever want to be parenting our parents - we're still the children,” Siefka added.
Janet Taylor, caregiver coordinator at the county's Long Term Care Access Office, has seen that communication between parent and child can be difficult, particularly when there is memory loss involved. There are also times when the elderly parents are in denial about the changes they are going through.
“The parents don't feel they have a problem, but the adult children kind of see changes,” Taylor said, citing cases of accidents in the home or a parent leaving objects in unusual places.
Taylor believes a caregiver support network will give the adult children an outlet to speak with others and obtain helpful tips.
“Caregiving is a very difficult process, a very difficult situation,” she said. “It makes it easier when people have contacts, other people to listen to them.”
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or Linda.ober@lee.net
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