Here's a story from India about how kids should be taking care of parents ... or else!

Oh, my.

The "Older Persons (Maintenance, Care and Protection) Bill, 2005", under which parents are legally entitled to maintenance from their adult kids is now being adapted to include 'non-old' parents.

What will be called the " "Parents and Senior Citizens (Welfare & Maintenance) Bill, 2006" will provide protection to every parent in need of it instead of just the over-60s targeted in last year's attempt to make children responsible for their parents.

Children AND grandchildren who do not properly care for their elders will go to jail, AND be disinherited from property bequeathed to them. Tribunals are to be set up in every district so the aggrieved can complain about being neglected.

Now, there's a can o' worms if I ever heard of one.

I know this is an issue in families, with many our generation 'sandwiched' between our kids' needs and those of aging parents. In plenty of Boomer homes ... especially adoptive Boomer homes where our kids are still little and our parents are older ... potty chairs share space with portable adult commodes, and the weekly shopping includes Pampers and Depends.

(And, by the way, many of us are also pretty darned close to 60 ourselves!)

An article from the Boston Herald highlights the situation.

Here are some of the numbers we're talking about in America:

There are more than 44 million caregivers, and two-thirds of them work outside the home AND care for a family member, 6.5 million of the total number are arranging care for someone who lives more than an hour away.

Juggling responsibilities for raising a family, succeeding in your career and caring for an older relative can be stressful. You can, however, reap rewards from the caregiving experience. This is an opportunity to heal relationships and give back to an older person who may have given much to you earlier in life.

By taking an organized approach and choosing elder care advisors and providers wisely, you can find that elusive work/life balance when faced with the challenges of elder care.

There are lots of tips in the article, and some resources, so check it out if you're looking for specific information.

Continued ...