Walking the Same Path: My Journey with Aging Parents

By Kathryn Humphres

"Caring for aging parents is not something you prepare for—it is something that happens, and you find yourself navigating unfamiliar territory with a heavy heart and an unwavering sense of duty. I know this all too well because I have lived it.

My dad was a strong, independent man. When he was diagnosed with leukemia, our world shifted. He was in and out of the hospital constantly, his health teetering between moments of improvement and devastating setbacks. Each time he came home, I hoped it would be for good, but deep down, I knew his time was limited. My mom did everything she could to take care of him, but it became too much. She was exhausted, barely sleeping, always worrying. I stepped in, doing what any daughter would do—being there for them, no matter what.

After my dad passed, my mom's decline became more apparent. She had always been a devoted wife, and without him, she struggled. At first, she needed a little help—forgetting how to cook, leaving food in the microwave instead of the oven. Small things. But those small things turned into bigger concerns. She needed a home caregiver, someone to make sure she ate properly and took her medications. Eventually, it was clear that assisted living was the best option. That transition was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. It felt like I was taking away her independence. She resisted at first, and I worried constantly. But over time, she adjusted, and I saw how well she was cared for. It became a comfort, knowing she was safe.

Then she fell. Broken bones meant another move, this time to a nursing home. More change. More adjustments. More heartbreak. The constant back and forth, the worry, the guilt—it is something so many families go through. I was lucky to be there for my parents until the very end, but that journey changed me.

Now, when I help families navigate Medi-Cal and long-term care planning, I do it with the deepest understanding of what they are going through. I know the fear, the stress, the overwhelming number of decisions that come all at once. I also know that, with the right support, families can find peace in knowing their loved ones are taken care of.

I have walked this path. I know how hard it is. And that is why I am here—to help others through it, just as I wished someone had helped me."

Kathryn