Are you showing the respect your aging parents deserve?

Caring for them will teach new things about yourself. One of those things is that it takes courage to face the complicated issues of caregiving.

Donna Cohen and Carl Eisdorfer have written a book, Seven Steps to Effective Parent Care, which gives new insight for how to live through the difficult caregiving times.

We all need to face it.

Caregiving is hard, will probably last a long time, and can drain you of absolutely all of your energies. Just when you don't think you can give any more, you're required to give more.

You start to feel sorry for yourself. Others are taking vacations, enjoying their grandchildren and you're stuck with a sometimes belligerent parent who is acting like a child.

But here's the important point of the book. Care giving can also be a strengthening process.

Here is a quick summary of the 7 main tips the authors make for successfully meeting not only the needs of your parents, but your own needs as well.

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