\u200bKaren\u2019s mother, Theresa, lived to be 103. Theresa was a woman with a sharp mind who enjoyed baking and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, as she got older, there were fewer things that Theresa was able to do for herself. She lost the ability to drive when her muscles became too weak to react quickly. She also had difficulty bathing safely on her own as getting in and out of the tub made her worry about falling. Eventually, Karen felt the need to give up her job in favor of being her mom\u2019s full-time caregiver.<\/p>\n
Karen\u2019s situation isn\u2019t unusual. And, it may become even more common since statistics show life expectancy has increased for the first time in four years.<\/p>\n