"How can I change my mindset as a caregiver to keep it from draining me emotionally?" Thanks for this question about being a caregiver—let me give it a shot. Also, before you sent this question you wrote me briefly to explain you are particularly interested in caregiving as it applies to caring for aging parents—so I tried to focus on that area of care-giving in specific. Caring for aging parents can be a rewarding and gratifying experience. However, just how gratifying it is can depend on a lot of different issues including: • Your own health • Your financial resources • Your emotional resilience • and whether or not you are raising children (or caring for others as well). So while being a caregiver is commendable, it is not the best option for everyone. The Sandwich Years The “sandwich years” is an expression that refers to middle-aged people who are both raising children of their own and caring for their parents. They are “sandwiched” between two … [Read more...]