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In the middle: Navigating aging, caregiving, and happiness
🇪🇸 Spain /Culture & Society

In the middle: Navigating aging, caregiving, and happiness

From La Vanguardia · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The author reflects on aging and happiness, referencing a 16-year-old Economist cover story suggesting life begins at 46.
  • Now 48, she explores the U-shaped curve of happiness, noting increased personal acceptance and emotional management in later life, particularly for women.
  • The piece connects personal reflections on aging parents and growing children to the broader societal challenges of caregiving and the 'middle' stage of life.

A reflection on aging and happiness prompts contemplation of life's stages, drawing inspiration from a 16-year-old Economist cover story titled "The joy of growing old (or why life begins at 46)."

Now 48, the author questions if her happiest phase has truly begun, referencing the British weekly's U-shaped curve theory of human happiness, which posits a low point around age 46 before rising again. This theory attributes the increase to greater self-acceptance, reduced stress, and improved emotional regulation. The author suggests this is even truer for women, who, accustomed to societal judgments, find that others' opinions matter less as they age, reaching a stage of fulfillment.

When everything slips out of our parents' hands, and falls into ours, what do we do with everything? Where do we put it?

— Valeria Luiselli (as quoted by the author)Reflecting on the transition of caregiving responsibilities from parents to their adult children.

Her personal journey intertwines with the narrative of Valeria Luiselli's book, "Principio, medio, fin" (Beginning, Middle, End), which she read on vacation with her teenage daughter. The book's exploration of a protagonist's journey with her daughter in Sicily and the pain of a mother's Alzheimer's resonated deeply. As the daughter of parents nearing 89, the author navigates the bittersweet reality of cherishing moments with her own daughter while confronting the "end" of her parents' capabilities.

She describes this phase as being "in the middle," caught between the "beginning" of her children's lives and the "end" of her parents'. This transitional period involves taking on the responsibility of caregiving, supporting her daughters, her parents, and herself. The article touches upon the challenges of caregiving, particularly for those dealing with the complexities of Alzheimer's, where moments of connection become precious amidst memory loss and language deterioration. The author highlights the vast number of women in similar situations, facing significant hardship and inequality, citing the example of a degree 3 dependent in Catalonia receiving only 400 euros monthly, while 24-hour home care can cost around 4,000 euros.

Where is her mind, in what intricate corridors is she wandering?

— Valeria Luiselli (as quoted by the author)Describing the disorientation and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Vanguardia in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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