Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!

Baby-Boomers, will you lend your ear? You may be a caregiver!

Baby-boomers, we have a job before us. Baby boomers are the demographic cohort following the Silent Generation and preceding Generation X. The generation are people born from 1946 to 1964, during the post–World War II baby boom.

New flash…our parents were busy… LOL!

If your parents are still living, they are in their wonder years, and they need you! You may ask, ‘what do they need?” They need a proactive caregiver, a proactive eye that is mindful of their needs. Needs like activities for daily living, medication management, financial management, transportation needs, and honoring end of life wishes, just to name a few. As much as our parents think, they are 45 years old, it is your role to let our loved-one down gently. Do not dash hopes and dreams, but occasionally you must bring reality into view. It’s true; it takes a village to raise our parents. This is because we bring different gifts and talents to the role. What is your role? You do have one. In my book, From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor shares the realization that my expectations and demands of others limited the needed support during my years as a caregiver. You must build your village, embracing their unique talents and gifts. I learned every person within your village has gifts and talents. It might be singing a song, clipping toenails, or braiding hair. Let the gifts and talents into your caregiver experience. Finally, remember to say thank you!