[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Hi, all. I am still having pain from surgery, but my sling is off. Typing is very difficult right now--but I wanted to check in. I miss you.

I've missed you a lot and have thought about you.

[Gavreel]

Hey everyone

[Nammu]

Hey Gavreel.
..

[arich62]

Alec here, senior age 60. What is on my mind today? Frustration for one thing. Four Saturday's in a row I have had to help my mom out with stuff (as a caregiver) as her normal Saturday caregiver has been sick and will instead be using Sunday, tomorrow to hopefully makeup for things I can't get done today. Then chronic aches and pains. Arthritis. Arthritis in both knees, pain in my lower back and arthritis in the basil joint below my right thumb. The daily drudge to of having to go up and down steep stairs with my pain and go run errands in traffic. I did buy myself a back brace belt and a seat cushion to help with some of the pain.
I have to close now to help write a letter for my mom ( who can't see up close) and get it in today's mail for her Granddaughter's birthday. Oh the fun life of being a caregiver. Kind of sucks actually.......

[Nammu]

Hi Arich. Welcome

[nonightowl]

Arich I just want to post hugs. I know caregiving is an emotionally and physically draining job. Yet I heard how not enough people are entering the profession due to low pay and little or no benefits. I know something about it but not up to posting about it.

I’m near your age and don’t know who’s going to take care of me. It’s a terrifying feeling, the thought of aging alone and depending on social services. And we all know how understaffed they all are and Covid made it that much worse.

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Posted directly on site using iPhone

[arich62]

Originally Posted by nonightowl

Arich I just want to post hugs. I know caregiving is an emotionally and physically draining job. Yet I heard how not enough people are entering the profession due to low pay and little or no benefits. I know something about it but not up to posting about it.

I’m near your age and don’t know who’s going to take care of me. It’s a terrifying feeling, the thought of aging alone and depending on social services. And we all know how understaffed they all are and Covid made it that much worse.

———
Posted directly on site using iPhone

Thank you for posting. Each day brings about an unknown. And yes, there are plenty of jobs because of so many quitting to pursue better pay. Sad because of the high-turnover my mom has lost a lot of good quality caregivers over the past 10 years. That's certainly a concern - getting caregiving too, in our later years. People need people, we all need help, one way or another, physically or emotionally at times. Hope things will work out for you.

[Travelinglady]

Hi, all. I literally do feel some of your pain. Alas, I didn't teach my sons to help much at home, since I was treated like a slave when I was growing up. They seem to have no inclination to help out, but think I should just hire help. Easier said than done.

So, I can see both sides of the caregiver situation. I'm 68 and my parents are dead. I certainly wouldn't be able to help them, if they were alive, since I need help myself. Would it help to tell a parent about your own health issues? (I played mine up some when my mother was living.)

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Hi, all. I literally do feel some of your pain. Alas, I didn't teach my sons to help much at home, since I was treated like a slave when I was growing up. They seem to have no inclination to help out, but think I should just hire help. Easier said than done.

So, I can see both sides of the caregiver situation. I'm 68 and my parents are dead. I certainly wouldn't be able to help them, if they were alive, since I need help myself. Would it help to tell a parent about your own health issues? (I played mine up some when my mother was living.)

I see both sides too. Alas, I'm 61 and my parents are long deceased. They didn't discuss ANYTHING of depth with me, their health or whatnot. And did many things behind my back regarding legal stuff. It's also hard for me when doctors ask me stuff like "do you have any family history of _______?" I have to say "I don't know" all the time like an idiot.

I also need help sometimes, but since I'm healthy I'm not seen as "deserving" of any help. Or I'm not "old enough". There are arbitrary age requirements on everything.

People in their 40's - 50's or 60's are considered the "sandwich generation". They are dealing with aging parents while trying to care for their OWN families at the same time. And the US has little support in this area for people. Since I have no family, I don't have to care for anyone but wonder if anyone will care for me, as I age. And having family doesn't guarantee any care either, as it can be dysfunctional/estranged......like mine was in later years especially.

[Nammu]

I’m 64 but in bad health. I have a very bad back because I waited too long to have surgery. The surgery helped the pain but I’m limited in what I can do. Then recently I fell and tore a ligament in my hand. Mum just passed recently and we are cleaning out her house. My oldest sister who’s 75 is doing the bulk of the work as she’s in much better shape. But we all pitch in and so do our kids. I’ve moved to a senior low income high rise. It’s been horrible really moving because my daughter although willing has a career as does her husband. I’m hoping this will be the last of it.