I'm asking for myself

It's hard even if you don't do the physical care; all the anxious phone calls, many "needs", caregivers and helpers who quit, paperwork to do over and over (why Medicaid refused my mom, who has nothing except a small SS - no house, car, or anything, and can not walk, rollator to the bathroom, wheelchair anywhere out of the apt, is a complete mystery to me, and now I forget how we sent it in in the first place, because she threw away all the paperwork - aaarrrgh!)

Flyer, great response!

annelib1, I also didn't realize how hard it was to take care of someone until my very elderly parents [90+] started to need my attention.

I remember grumbling at work about driving my parents all over hill and dale. One co-worker said "don't forget your parents drove you all over the place when you were a child". I thought about that for a moment and said "that's true, but my parents weren't 65 when I was a child, big difference".

Now when I hear of a grown child caring for parent(s), I have a better understanding. You are so right, it is hard.