It is a question faced by many boomers and Gen Xers with aging parents who live far away: whether to uproot their own life to care for a parent or try to manage things from a distance. Neither choice is easy.

Sara Tapscott was living 200 miles from her parents and working full-time as a nurse when she considered moving closer to them. In a story in Next Avenue, she reflects on her decision. 
 
“There’s so much guilt if you don’t do it,” she said. “But you also realize you give up your whole self to move, and in the long run, I didn’t think my parents would have wanted that. 
 
“I went back and forth about it until they died. I still do.”
 
 
CaregiverExchange.ca also recommends:
 

• Tips for long-distance caregivers
• Guilt-busting: Pushing back against unreasonable caregiving expectations, including your own
• How to get help as a family caregiver when you’re too overwhelmed to ask for it
• Seasoned family caregivers share insights on looking after someone with dementia