CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email:   Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado – April 3, 2021

The Caring Generation® Moving Home to Care for a Sick Parent

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation® podcast show for caregivers and aging adults. This coming Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the topic is Moving Home to Care for a Sick Parent.

Wilson releases a new podcast in The Caring Generation series every Wednesday, sharing tips and conversations about aging, caregiving, and family relationships to help caregiving families plan for what's ahead. The podcasts are available on Wilson's website and all major podcast sites.

Moving Home to Care for a Sick Parent

Working adult children often find their lives interrupted by caregiving responsibilities for elderly parents. When children and parents live in the same city, the idea of moving home to care for a sick parent is less relevant—even though many families move in together for the sake of time and convenience.

But what happens when an adult child lives in a different city, state, or another country? Is the decision to move home to care for a sick parent the only decision, or are there other options? On this program, Wilson discusses how there are more options today for children who live at a distance who might be evaluating options for moving home to care for a sick parent. 

Also discussed is the idea of how caregiving relationships differ by the role as a son, daughter, or spouse. Differences in culture, religion, personal beliefs, and conflicts early in life that are not resolved can have a significant impact on the quality of the caregiving relationship.

In parental relationships that are autocratic in nature, less opportunity exists for balance in the relationship between an aging parent and an adult child who becomes the caregiver. Spousal relationships are affected by the closeness of the husband and wife. Caregiving is more challenging when relationships are less like a partnership and more of a one-way relationship where the caregiver feels like he or she is giving up their life for caregiving responsibilities. 

While the pandemic has made travel potentially challenging, other aspects like low-cost flights, remote working, and flexibility may delay or reduce the need for children to give up jobs or careers to care for aging parents. There are many options to help parents remain independent at home and reduce caregiver stress.

Interview with Dr. Catherine Riffin of Weill Cornell Medicine

Catherine Riffin, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her research examines how older adults and their family caregivers manage chronic illness, with a specific focus on caregivers' interactions with the health care system.

Dr. Riffin shares information from a research article, Caregiver Needs Assessment in Primary Care: Views of Clinicians, Staff, Patients, and Caregivers. The interview with Wilson highlights the potential benefits of supporting family caregivers who attend medical appointments with older family members.  Results from a caregiver assessment are also shared that lend insights into areas of beneficial support.

Wilson works with caregiving organizations and corporations worldwide to educate about the role strain that caregivers experience and how to be proactive to plan ahead for health and aging issues. More about Wilson's online courses for elderly care: How to Get Guardianship of a Parent and Taking Care of Elderly Parents, caregiver support, webinars, speaking engagements, and caregiver consultations are on her website www.pameladwilson.com. Pamela may also be contacted at 303-810-1816 or through the Contact Me page on her website.

 #