The article discusses the author's experience living with in-laws after they revealed their cognitive decline. Faced with the choice of nursing homes or cohabitation, the family opted to share a home, leading to new dynamics and lessons in communication and boundaries. The author reflects on the surprise of personal empowerment derived from navigating this complex relationship. It took time to establish comfort and appropriate levels of involvement, emphasizing the importance of respecting independence while offering needed support.
We had to find the right balance between helping and overstepping.
I didn't realize it would lead to my own empowerment.
It was impossible to disregard their moments of distress.
After a few weeks of living together, we noticed his parents developed a routine of retreating upstairs.
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