You're sitting in a meeting 500 miles from your parent's residence when your phone buzzes. It's a neighbor saying your mom seemed confused at the mailbox again. Your stomach drops. You want to be there, but you can't be, at least not today.
The conversation has been circling in your mind for weeks, maybe months. You rehearse it in the car on your commute, draft talking points in your head while making dinner, and then lose your nerve every time you pick up the phone. If this sounds familiar, you're far from alone. Millions of family members across the country face this exact moment, and the weight of it can feel enormous.
You find three identical cartons of milk in your parent's fridge—all opened, all with different expiration dates. It's a small thing, easy to brush aside. But later that evening, you notice the back door is unlocked again. And you can't shake the feeling that these small things are starting to add up to something bigger.
Arbor Terrace Prince William Commons
14080 Central Loop
Woodbridge, VA 22193