Grief and Grit(s)

When a declining parent needs help, it creates a delicate balance of care and acceptance. Marsha Gray Hill thought she had found that balance, even as her mother began to show signs of dementia. But then, COVID ripped the rug out from under her, making it impossible to support her mother as she would have liked. In the end, the pandemic was what ended her mother's life. In the process, Marsha learned too much about attitudes towards elders, inadequate support structures and a lack of understanding of what it takes to be a caregiver. In sharing the story of her mother's life, she has given us a window into the lives of so many who died, and are still dying, from that terrible illness. She implores us to believe our society can do better!