Keeping a Promise: Supporting Aging Parents and Caregivers
When Jeanette’s mother was hospitalized, her father—tears in his eyes—took her hand and said, “Please take care of your mother if I ever can’t.” Without hesitation, Jeanette promised, “Yes, I will.”
Years later, after her father passed, Jeanette found herself keeping that promise. Her mother’s hearing and eyesight had faded, she could no longer drive, and after several falls, it was clear she needed more help.
Jeanette’s first step in honoring her promise was to make sure her mother had the right legal and financial protections in place. That meant meeting with our elder law team—your friendly, trusted counselors at Aging in Maine. Together, we could review her mother’s estate plan, powers of attorney, and long-term care options—the essential tools every adult, especially older adults, should have in place.
The Challenge of Caregiving
As Jeanette stepped into her caregiving role, she joined millions of Americans caring for aging parents. It’s a profound act of love—but it can also be overwhelming.
Caregivers often face:
- Emotional strain and family tension resurfacing after years
- Financial worries and sleepless nights
- Conflicting demands between caregiving, work, and family life
- Health challenges of their own
- Exhaustion from constant responsibility and unexpected emergencies
This growing caregiving crisis has even been recognized on a national level. Congress passed the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (H.R.3759), establishing a national strategy to support family caregivers across the country.
Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others
One of the most important lessons for caregivers is simple: you must take care of yourself first.
Just like flight attendants say before takeoff—“Put on your own oxygen mask first”—you can’t care for others if you’re running on empty.
For helpful advice on managing caregiver stress, burnout, and emotional health, visit the Mayo Clinic’s caregiver resources.
Remember: you are not alone. Help is available.
Helpful Caregiver Resources
Below are trusted organizations and websites offering education, financial guidance, respite care, and emotional support for family caregivers.
Area Agencies on Aging
https://www.n4a.org/caregivers
A national network of nonprofit agencies providing information about long-term care, transportation, respite services, emergency assistance, and caregiver education.
Caregiver Action Network
http://caregiveraction.org/
Offers guidance organized by stage of the caregiving journey, with checklists, cost management tips, and resources for balancing work and family.
Caregiving.com
https://www.caregiving.com/
Features podcasts, webinars, storytelling projects, and support tools on topics such as decision fatigue, boundary-setting, and self-care.
Family Caregiver Alliance
https://www.caregiver.org/
One of the nation’s first nonprofit organizations focused on supporting family caregivers, offering research, state-by-state resources, and policy advocacy.
National Alliance for Caregiving
https://www.caregiving.org/
Provides extensive resources, including care locators, volunteer calendars, and information for caregivers supporting loved ones with specific conditions such as Alzheimer’s or cancer.
Parenting Our Parents
http://www.parentingourparents.org/
Offers peer-to-peer networking, family coaching, and educational videos designed to help adult children navigate caregiving for their parents.
Final Thoughts
Caregiving is both a gift and a challenge. As Jeanette discovered, keeping a promise to care for a loved one can be one of the most meaningful experiences in life—but it’s not something you have to face alone.
There are legal tools, community resources, and compassionate professionals ready to help.
If you have questions about caregiving, long-term care planning, or elder law, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (207) 848-5600 or visit our Contact Page.
Keep the home fires burning—but don’t burn yourself out.
