Your mom calls. The furnace is making a strange noise. Is it normal? She's not sure. She's also not sure when it was last serviced. You are now in charge of figuring out her HVAC situation while you're at work.
Welcome to the world of home maintenance for your aging parent, where every small problem becomes your problem, and you're somehow responsible for a house you don't live in.
The "It's Probably Fine" Phenomenon
Something's broken. Your dad assures you it's fine. It's definitely not fine. The roof is leaking, but he's been putting a bucket under it for two years, so why fix it now? You drive to his house. You get quotes. You convince him this needs fixing. He's annoyed you're making a big deal out of nothing.
The Contractor Coordination Nightmare
You finally get your parent to agree something needs fixing. Now you're in charge of finding contractors, getting estimates, and making sure work is actually done well. You can't be there to supervise. They say the job will take one day. It takes three. Everyone's frustrated.
Safety Hazards You're Discovering
During all of this, you're starting to notice other things. The bathroom doesn't have grab bars. The stairs are steep. The throw rug in the hallway is a tripping hazard. Your parent has lived in this house for 30 years. They're not worried about falling. Until they don't. Until someone falls.
What You're Actually Managing
You've become the home maintenance coordinator for your parent's property. You're handling contractor relationships, budgeting, prioritization, and safety assessments. You're doing this while managing your own home. And you're doing this without real authority because ultimately it's your parent's house.
What If You Had Professional Support?
At Reflections Management and Care, our care managers help coordinate home safety assessments and manage relationships with contractors. We advocate for your parent's safety, helping ensure their home supports independent living. We coordinate the logistics so you're not the middle person.
Stop Managing Crises