Caring for aging parents is hard! Dave and Bethlie discuss practical ways you navigate these difficult times. If you are in this season, or will be in this season, we trust this content will be a help. If you know of someone who could use this, please share it. \

Caring for Aging Parents

1. It is hard.
   1. Life is busy all by itself, but caring for aging parents doubles or triples the load.
   2. Some parents are pretty much on their own all the way through life, but others need lots of help and care.
2. As much as possible, plan ahead before care is needed.
   1. Talk with all the family who is involved or who will be.
   2. If possible, purchase insurance plans that will help.
      1. Perhaps pay for them as a family.
      2. Secure wills and power of attorneys and bank accounts and all that while it can be done easily.
   3. Have a plan as to who is in charge and who will help and how it will be done.
3. Be prepared for misunderstanding and difficult responses
   1. Remember truth when accusations are made
   2. Remember truth when challenges occurC
4. It needs to be a WE affair and not a ME affair
   1. Get everyone involved
      1. Brothers and sisters
      2. Aunts and uncles
      3. Sons and daughters
      4. Spouse
   2. Everyone get involved
      1. One person likely cannot do it by themselves
      2. Each person must shoulder some responsibility

Links:

Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach?

Westwood Baptist Church

Westwood Baptist Church Podcast

Join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss medication and the role it plays in their home.

• Try exercise
• Try counsel
• Try meditation
• Try lifestyle changes
• Try prayer
• Try family changes
• Try training
• Try spanking
  • Spanking is a simple method of amplifying the consequences of negative behavior at a time when the negative behavior is not as BIG of a deal

If you choose to use medication, use them sparingly

Small doses

Short time, not a lifetime

Aware of all the side effects

Do much research

• Billion dollar industries produce modern meds
• Then subsidize doctors and pharmacys and clinics who prescribe them
• It is a FOR profit business
• Your health is your responsibility.

Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach?

Westwood Baptist Church

Westwood Baptist Church Podcast

Join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss medication and the role it plays in their home.

Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach?

Westwood Baptist Church

Westwood Baptist Church Podcast

1. Meds and special needs: often asked question and often commented matter (both for and against)

1. 1. Meds are here to stay

1. 1. 1. Most everyone uses meds in some way
         1. Some are pharmaceutical
         2. Some are natural
         3. Some are spooky
      2. We take Tylenol, blood pressure medication, antibiotics
      3. Most will take some vaccines.
         1. Polio
         2. Measles
         3. Illustration of mine
            1. Yellow fever vaccine on one of my missions trips
               1. It was required to enter the country
            2. Chicken Pox because I have never had it

2. Do everything possible not to use them; instead focus on older, proven methods that have worked for centuries:

1. 1. 1. Home and Family
         1. Determine to have a strong family
            1. Lots of love - said and shown
         2. Work to have a peaceful home
            1. Quiet
            2. Routines
         3. Work to have a protected home
            1. The internet has caused a huge mental health crisis
               1. Bullying
               2. Shaming
               3. Promotion of negativity
                  1. Climate change
                  2. Gender issues
                  3. War
                  4. Famine
                  5. Etc
            2. TV has contributed as well
            3. Remove access to social media or greatly limit its use
               1. Our kids never had it and have all had great friends
                  1. We found those at church
                  2. We found those at Sunday School and youth programs
                  3. We found those in our own family (brothers, sisters, cousins, etc)