Hey everyone, today I’m hitting you with a real-talk post, something I’ve been living for the last decade. It’s a bit of a “listen to your own advice, Cliff” moment. That saying about going from being taken care of to taking care of others? It’s the real deal, no joke. Let me break it down for you.
Back in 2014, my mom had a stroke. It hit her hard, messing with her brain to where simple stuff like math, keeping track of time, or jotting down notes became a maze for her. She can walk, talk, and think, but those basic tasks? They’re a struggle. Fast forward to now, 2024, and I’m realizing I’ve been in this caregiver role for a whole ten years. My mom’s 76, and looking ahead, we might be in this for another decade.
Here’s the kicker: Mom doesn’t have the cash for fancy private care, so we’re crossing fingers for Medicaid to back us up. Didn’t mention before, but her knee’s a wreck—arthritic, swollen like a grapefruit, thanks to a car crash when she was younger. Doctors say knee replacement’s on the table, but it’s a long road: pull the pin from her femur, let that heal, then tackle the knee, followed by more healing and therapy. That’s a mountain of a challenge for someone her age.
Selling her house to pay for a nursing home? Did the math. Best case, that’s a 5-6 year solution before we’re back to square one, hoping Medicaid steps in. If we’d thought ahead and snagged a long-term care plan, we wouldn’t be sweating it now.
So here’s the deal, as I see it: You’re born, your parents got your back for a couple of decades, then it flips. Suddenly, you’re the one looking out for them. If you’re smart, you’ll get that long-term care policy sorted early. Don’t be like me, learning the hard way. We plan for our kids, stash away savings for retirement, but planning for our parents? Slips through the cracks.
Take it from someone who’s living it: The care cycle’s a full circle. Get ahead of it, and make sure you’re ready when it’s your turn to step up.
The Cliff Notes 