When Everything Changes ... Again

By Gail Sheehy

The first shock for Bonnie and David Heath was the call about David's mother's fall. But David's Dad, Larry, was ready and willing to be her caregiver. That New Normal lasted for almost two years. And then—Boomerang—Dad fell. Now neither Mom nor Dad could be of much help to each other. As so often happens, the responsibility shifts to the adult children, who are usually unprepared.

"The night we got the call from the paramedics about Larry, everything stopped," said their daughter-in-law, Bonnie. "He couldn't cook. He couldn't drive safely. He could no longer be the caregiver."

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