My MomMy mom lives in Florida, while I live in the Midwest. Like many people my age, I'm worried about my mother living alone. She has family nearby, but my cousins have their own lives and their own parents to take care of. She has one living sister. Her sense of family and duty keeps her in Florida, away from her two daughters who could take care of her needs.
Currently she is relatively healthy and can fend for herself with minimal help. However, she has not driven in years and relies on public transportation to get around. While this is economical and "safe" from a driving standpoint, it can be risky because she is dealing with bus schedules and switching routes and has to cross busy intersections to get to her destination. Travel takes so much longer and simple things, like grocery shopping, become quite a challenge. My own sense of duty and family makes me want to move her to my area. But this would not be ideal - while she gains my company, she loses contact with everyone else, a lifetime of friends and extended family members. That is my dilemma. What's the best solution for my mom? |