My adult siblings and I are trying to figure out how to handle our aging father's increasingly risky behavior—driving when he shouldn't, giving money to obvious scams, refusing help—and we're split between those who want to intervene and those who think we should respect his autonomy. The harder question is whether we're protecting him from harm or protecting ourselves from the anxiety of watching him make choices we disagree with.
More people experience this than they realize.
Family conflicts about elder autonomy often mask deeper questions about whose anxiety gets priority and what we owe each other in terms of protection versus dignity.
“Where Are You with Risk-taking — philosophy and psychology?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.