Our family experienced this and I knew it was important to openly share our story, so I am beginning a series of articles explaining what we went through and how we survived the journey...

Over the years I have helped families understand and navigate the difficulties they face as loved ones age and I continue to do so. There are numerous resources and solutions available, which I freely share. I have highlighted services we used.

My two brothers and I grew up outside of New York City and our parents retired to an upstate farm. Our youngest brother, Jon, brain damaged by his DPT shot, was moved to a nearby group home.

Our parents enjoyed their retirement years in peace and tranquility.

As our California family grew, we visited periodically. Our kids loved driving on the tractor, seeing the cows being milked and swinging on the rope in the barn.

Life was good for all of us.

That all changed when my 87 year-old mother fell and broke her hip 2 days before daughter, Julie, and I were scheduled to visit.

Upon our arrival we began cooking meals, cleaning and making daily visits to Mom in the hospital, where she was in good spirits and healing well.

Before we left I arranged for a local caregiving company to provide light housekeeping services and Meals on Wheels to deliver meals.

About 2 years later our entire family visited them. We stayed in a beautiful B & B, where we held joint 89 and 90th birthdays for our parents.

But we had no idea how much of a blessing this would become, when just 8 months later we lost Mom to a stroke.

Her death began a devastating chain of events for all of us…