This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Carla Romagnano, who is in her 60s and lives in Idaho with her 84-year-old mom. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
In 2022, my mom had a major fall, and prior to that, she was diagnosed with dementia.
She broke her femur from the fall, and she needed 24-hour care. I knew my dad wouldn’t be able to do that for her, so we hired an in-home caregiver for at least a year.
My dad suggested moving to where I live to cut down on caregiving expenses, and because doctors are close by, whether where I live or the next town over. So my dad and I decided we could take care of my mom…
