"Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Parent's Care Before the New Year"

The space between Christmas and New Year holds a particular energy — a pause between celebration and resolution. It's a natural time for reflection, for taking stock, for honest assessment.

If you're caring for an aging parent, this might be a valuable moment to ask yourself some important questions. Not to add to your burden, but to clarify what's working, what isn't, and what might need to change as you enter a new year.

Find a quiet moment. Perhaps with coffee, perhaps with a notebook. And consider these questions honestly.

Questions About Your Loved One

How is their overall quality of life? Are they content, engaged, and comfortable most of the time? Or are they isolated, anxious, or struggling?

Have their needs increased over the past year? What tasks that they once managed independently now require help?

Are they safe in their current living situation? What risks exist — falls, medication errors, fire hazards, wandering?

Is their medical care well-coordinated? Do they have regular check-ups? Are chronic conditions being managed? Is their medication regimen current and appropriate?

What do they want? Have you asked them directly about their preferences, fears, and hopes?

Questions About the Care Being Provided

Is the current care arrangement meeting their needs? Are there gaps — things not being done, needs going unmet?

Who is providing care, and is that sustainable? If it's primarily you, can you maintain this level indefinitely? If others are involved, is the arrangement working for everyone?

What would happen in an emergency? If you became ill or unavailable, who would step in? Is there a plan?

Are you fighting fires or planning ahead? Does each week feel like crisis management, or do you have systems that create stability?

Questions About Yourself

How are you — honestly? How is your physical health, your mental health, your emotional state?

What have you sacrificed this year for caregiving? Relationships? Career opportunities? Personal interests? Your own health care?

Can you continue at this pace? For another year? For five years? What happens if needs increase?

When did you last do something purely for yourself — not for escape, but for genuine nourishment?

Do you resent the caregiving role? Resentment isn't a character flaw; it's information that something in the equation isn't working.

Questions About Family Dynamics

Is caregiving responsibility fairly distributed, or are you carrying an unequal burden?

Are there family members who could do more? Have you asked directly for specific help?

Are family relationships being damaged by caregiving stress? What conversations need to happen?

Is everyone in agreement about care decisions, or is there conflict that needs addressing?

Questions About Resources

Are you using available resources? Support groups, respite care, community programs, professional help?

What's preventing you from getting more help? Is it cost? Availability? Guilt? Your parent's resistance? Your own reluctance to let go?

What would "enough support" look like? Can you imagine an arrangement that feels sustainable?

Have you explored financial options for care? Long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, state programs, family contribution sharing?

Questions About the Future

What does the trajectory look like? Are needs likely to increase? Are you planning for that?

What decisions might you face in the coming year? Discussions about driving, housing changes, end-of-life planning?

What's your biggest fear about the year ahead? Sometimes naming our fears helps us address them.

What would make next year better than this one? What one change would have the biggest positive impact?

Using Your Answers

These questions have no right answers. They're simply tools for clarity.

If your honest answers reveal a sustainable situation, wonderful. Keep doing what you're doing.

If your answers reveal gaps, concerns, or unsustainable patterns, that's valuable information. Now you can decide what to address.

Change doesn't have to be dramatic. Sometimes it's one conversation, one new resource, one shift in perspective. But change that isn't named can't happen.

Your Next Step

As you prepare for a new year, give yourself the gift of honest assessment. And if that assessment reveals a need for additional support, know that help is available.

The new year is a chance for new solutions. Geriatric Care Solutions helps families create sustainable care plans that protect everyone's wellbeing. Call 1-888-896-8275 or email ask@gcaresolution.com.