David Solie's blog Archives - Page 11 of 24 - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Shades of Dementia

January 4, 2018

It’s easy to dismiss early slips of aging parents when a name, conversation or place simply goes missing. They’re just getting old we tell ourselves. Just getting old. But it persists, expands and grows worrisome. When denial is no…

Mind The Gap

December 29, 2017

Aging parents have a different psychological agenda from their adult children. The agenda of the last phase of life has a laser like focus on preserving control and creating a legacy. It’s all about Lasting and Leaving. Adult children need…

When the last parent is gone…

December 18, 2017

When The Last Parent Is Gone By David Solie When the last parent is gone, Your heart cannot right itself, Things that should help, Heeding warning signs Repairing loose ends Bracing for impact All…

Reset Expectations

December 15, 2017

The challenge of caring for an aging parent are exhaustive and quickly exceed the capacity of any one person. Caregivers need to adopt realistic and sustainable expectations about their capacityy to avoid sacrificing their health for unattainable goals. Acknowledging limits…

The Shifting Sands of Solo Caregiving…

December 12, 2017

Solo caregiving takes a toll on both parties. What starts out as an act of compassion and loyalty can deteriorate into a role that exceeds the best efforts of one person. Reframing the situation from a new vantage point helps…

Families Are Wired To Erupt

December 7, 2017

In truth, families are officially “complex systems” where seemingly minor changes can produce major consequences ar anytime and without warning. What seemed like a good idea turns out to trigger an exhaustive meltdown. Now what? Accepting this reality as an…

Childhood Matters

December 2, 2017

The residue of childhood carries with it complex feelings about aging parents that limit objectivity, exaggerate responsibilities and increase emotional vulnerability. This distorted landscape makes it impossible to receive the approval adult children desperately seek from their aging parents in…