25-year-old refuses to be the legal guardian of her incapacitated 53-year-old father because he was absent during her whole childhood: 'My uncle suggested it should be me because I’m his daughter'

Whether to be the primary caretaker of your parents in their old age is a difficult question to consider. For people who are close to their parents, both emotionally and geographically, it's a no-brainer that they are going to be the ones who will be there for them with whatever they need as they age. It might not feel like a burden, but rather an honor to help their parents because they put so much time into raising them. 

If you don't live in the same city as your aging parents, it can be a more difficult decision to move to care for them. If you need to take years off work to become the sole caretaker of an elderly person, it can significantly hinder your ability to make significant career moves in the future. Any gap in work history is a red flag to many employers, regardless of the extenuating circumstances. 

Of course, there is the moral quandary at play: "Is it unethical for me to deny my parents care?" Some might quote scripture, saying that they must honor thy father and mother, and refusing to take care of them is not spiritually sound. Others might begrudgingly take up the caretaker role because they would feel like a bad person if they didn't. 

Author image for Emmy Pratt Emmy Pratt
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