The Bite – June 2013
Managing The Transition Protecting Our Seniors By Mark “Six” James and Art Washington As our parents and grandparents grow older there comes a time in both our lives when the caretaker will become the cared for. For some of our seniors there is nothing tougher than the feeling of losing their independence. For the adult children there is nothing more challenging than managing that transition with style, grace and deference. Managing the senior care transition is a topic that all families face and often with great anxiety. How do you tell the patriarch or matriarch of the family, who has always been independent, the primary protector of the family, and often who may have prior military or law enforcement service, we are uncomfortable with them owning or continuing to own a firearm? Whether it is a fading memory, failing eyesight, loss of strength or coordination, or severe arthritis you recognize their ability to operate a firearm safely has been compromised.
The Bite – “Managing the Transition”
Just as many of us have had a similar discussion about restricting driving privileges or taking the keys from our parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles; this discussion can often be further intensified as it can come with a feeling and realization by our most beloved seniors that they can no longer protect those they love most dearly. As we help manage through that transition, our goal should be to help them maintain their independence and not make them more dependent all while protecting their dignity and self-esteem. Recently, I helped some very close family friends manage through that transition with the patriarch of their family. Now imagine further having to have that dialogue with a retired Marine. You don’t tell a Marine what to do, you help them come to a mutually beneficial solution. Marines and other strong personalities are not used to losing many battles.
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