I picked up my parents at the airport on Friday—they’d just flown in from my sister’s, in Maine—and almost immediately was reminded of two things:
-    how much a site like Caring.com is needed
-    how much work is ahead of us to answer the many questions my family--and all of you--are likely to have in the coming months and years

During the drive from the Oakland Airport to our house, I asked my parents how their motel near Logan Airport, in Boston, worked out. “Just fine,” my dad told me. “Real nice.” His one complaint: They had to climb into and out of a slippery tub, which had no bath mat, to take a shower—not easy at ages 85 and 86. “That’s an accident waiting to happen,” he said.

Note to self: Although we have a lot of helpful articles on bathing, we need some advice on how to handle bathroom safety issues on the road. Anyone out there have any good tips to share with the rest of us?

When we arrived home, I asked my mom, who broke her hip a few months ago, what she was wearing around her neck. She told me it was one of those medical alert devices that she can trigger to summon help if she needs it. My dad then showed me his, which he wears like a wristwatch. “But it only works in the house or in the yard,” my mom told me. “It won’t work out here, in California.”

Second note to self: There has to be a system that works on a mobile phone platform, so the devices work most anywhere…or is there? Has anyone out there found the answer?

After dinner, we watched a movie together: Sea Biscuit, which we’d all seen when it first came out a few years back. When it was over, my mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, turned to me and said, “That was a real good movie. I’d forgotten most of it.”

So had I, including one of the movie’s best lines (I’m paraphrasing): Just because someone is a little beat up [whether it’s a race horse, a jockey, an old horse trainer…or our parents] doesn’t mean they should just be tossed away. They still have a lot to offer.

That’s why we’re here. We want to help you help your parents through a stage of life that actress Bette Davis once described as “not for sissies.” 

Old age is hard—for our parents and us. Our hope is that by sharing our experiences, our collective wisdom, and support, we can make it a little easier and more meaningful for everyone involved. Let us hear from you. How can we make Caring.com work better for you as you care for your parents?