Been feeling recently like no-one tells you about this stuff, your children grow up and move out and it's all supposed to be great, the freedom, the lessening of responsibility, the extra time and then BAM, you're back into a caring role before you've had time to even think about what you want to do for yourself.
Will lurk a little and catch up, my biggest concern at the moment is how to tackle the conversation about giving up driving.
Mum died a few years back, which was a big shock, Dad having been the one with major health issues and Mum being very active. Since then, he has coped OK but is declining quite rapidly now. Stubborn is an understatement, it's taken me 3 years to persuade him to get a stairlift and took about the same to get him to accept a cordless phone and a cleaner.
Over the last few months, he has got better at asking for help, I'm now asked to accompany him everywhere, doctors, shopping etc which I'm happy to do but there's no plan B if I'm away or unwell. He insists on driving though which is mad, I take my car to get to his house and could easily do it. The last few journeys have been frankly terrifying and I need to tackle the issue, I know I'm avoiding it as it's going to be very difficult but on the other hand, I would never forgive myself if he hurt himself or someone else :(