The day may come when you find yourself making decisions for your parents.
It's quite a switch, and even if you have the best intentions, taking care of an elderly parent can be a drain, emotionally and financially.
The National Alliance for Caregiving has some advice: First, you should find someone to talk to openly and honestly. Even negative feelings are ok to talk about.
Second, be sure not to set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals for helping your parent. For example, attempting to overcome the problems of advanced Alzheimer's disease is not something most people can do.
Third, make sure you leave time for yourself in your schedule, no matter how busy you are.
Other tips to avoid burn out include becoming part of a support group for caregivers and using respite care, with professionals providing temporary help to give you a break.
