Excerpt from the beginning of Chapter 5
When You're Not Sure If You Should Step In
Doug's parents were in their late sixties and had always been quiet, private people. They'd never given Doug much cause to worry about them, but during the past several months, Doug and his wife had become concerned about his father, Charles. Charles hadn't been particularly happy since he'd retired a few years earlier from his job as a press operator with the local newspaper. But lately he'd become quite moody, and it seemed that he rarely went out of the house.
However, because his father appeared to be doing well in every other way, Doug figured that he was probably just being crotchety because he was getting old. And because Doug didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing, he kept quiet and minded his own business.
When the Situation Is Iffy
When your folks get into their later years and begin to experience some of the losses of aging,your first hint of trouble may not come from a phone call informing you that something awful has happened. Instead, you gradually may become suspicious that things aren't exactly as they should be. It may be that something bothers you about your parents' appearance. Or there may be something about their behavior that has changed. Or they may have made a decision that makes you wonder about their judgment or their competence.
Does your dad's coughing mean that he's coming down with a serious illness? Does the fact that his hands shake affect his life in any significant way? Does he even notice the shaking? Does this once impeccable man realize that he has stains on his clothes and that he looks unkempt?
You don't know if these things are serious or not, and you can't help but feel a little worried. One Sunday, after Doug and his family had finished eating dinner at his folks' house, Charles went down to his basement woodworking shop while the others sat down to visit in the living room.
A few minutes later, they heard a series of thuds coming from the direction of the basement. They ran to see what had happened and found Charles lying at the bottom of the stairs. He'd cut his head and was dazed.
They were frightened because there was a great deal of blood, so Doug wrapped his father's head in a towel, and he and his mother took him to the emergency room.
