1大学英语四级改革阅读理解新题型——匹配题练习1Caringforelderlyparentscatchesmanyunprepared[A]LastJuly,JulieBaldocchi,smotherhadamassivestrokeandwasparalyzed.Baldocchisuddenlyhadtobecomeafamilycaregiver,somethingthatshewasntpreparedfor.“Iwasflyingbytheseatofmypants,”saysBaldocchi,anemploymentspecialistinSanFrancisco.Bothofherparentsare83,andsheknewherfathercouldn’thandlehermother’scare.Thehospitalrecommendedputtinghermotherinanursinghome.Baldocchiwasn’twillingtodothat.Butmovingherbackintoherparents’homecreatedotherproblems.Baldocchi,48,ismarriedandlivesaboutamileawayfromherparents.Shehasafull-timejobandhasbackproblemsthatmakeitdifficultforhertolifthermother.“Icouldn’tdoitall,”shesays.“ButIdidn’tevenknowhowtofindhelp.”[B]WithhelpfromtheFamilyCaregiverAlliance,sheeventuallyhiredalive-incaregiver.“Butevenifyouplanintellectuallyandlegally,you’reneverreadyfortheemotionalimpact,”Baldocchisays.Inthefirsttwomonthsafterhermother’sstroke,shelostabout30poundsasstressmounted.Morethan42millionAmericansprovidefamilycaregivingforanadultwhoneedshelpwithdailyactivities,accordingtoa2009surveybytheAARP.Anadditional61.6millionprovidedatleastsomecareduringtheyear.Andmanyareunprepared.[C]Whilemanyparentslackanadvancecaredirective,it’sthemostbasicandimportantsteptheycantake.Thedirectiveincludesseveralparts,including:adurablepowerofattorney,whichgivessomeonelegalauthoritytomakefinancialdecisionsonanother’sbehalf;ahealthcareproxy,whichissimilartothepowerofattorney,exceptitallowssomeonetomakedecisionsregardingmedicaltreatment;andalivingwillthatoutlinesinstructionsforend-of-lifecare.(Forexample,parentscansayiftheywanttobekeptalivebyartificialmeasures.)“It’sinvaluableforthekids,becauseit’shardtomakethosedecisionsforaparent,”saysJenniferCona,anelder-lawattorneyatGenserDubowGenser&ConainMelville,N.Y.Anadvancecaredirectiveisthefirstlineofdefenseifasituationarises,saysKathleenKelly,executivedirectoroftheFamilyCaregiverAlliance,whichsupportsandeducatescaregivers.Withoutanadvancedirective,thefamilywillhavetopetitionthecourttobeappointedtheparent’slegalguardian,saysAgingCare.com.[D]It’simportantforfamiliestotalkaboutlong-termcaresotheadultchildrenknowtheirparents,preferences,wishesandgoals,saysLynnFeinberg,acaregivingexpertatAARP.Butit’snotaneasyconversation.Elderlyparentsaresometimessuspiciousoftheirchildren’sfinancialmotives,saysSusanJohn,afinancialplanneratFinancialFocusinWolfeboro,N.H.2OneclientaskedJohntoholdafamilymeetingbecausetheyneededanintermediarytotalkaboutfinancialissues,shesays.Andwhentherearemanysiblings,thefamilydecisionscanbecomeathree-ringcircuswithmuchacrimony,saysAnn-MargaretCarrozza,anelder-lawattorneyinGlenCove,N.Y.Familieswhoneedinformationandhelpsortingoutdisagreementscancallonelder-lawattorneys,financialplanners,geriatriccaremanagersandcaregiversupportgroups.InFebruary,AARPsaiditwillofferitsmembersanewcaregivingsupportservicethroughfinancialservicesfirmGenworth.[E]Manyfamiliesareunpreparedforquickdecisions,especiallywhentheyfindoutthatMedicaredoesn’tpayforlong-termcare,Feinbergsays.Themediancostofayearinaprivateroomatanursinghomein2011was$77,745,accordingtoGenworth.AndonlythosewhohavespentmostoftheirassetscanqualifyforMedicaidtopayforthenursinghome.[F]Assistedlivingisanotheroption.Residentscanhavetheirownapartmenttomaintainsomeindependence.Butthefacilitiesgenerallyprovidepersonalcareservices,suchasmeals,housekeepingandassistancewithactivities.Still,it’snotcheap:Thenationalmediancostin2011was$39,135,accordingtoGenworth.Assistedlivingisn’tcoveredbyMedicaid.[G]Iftheyhaveachoice,atleast90%ofelderlyparentsprefertostayathomeaslongastheycan,accordingtoAARPresearch.Butiftheparentscannolongersafelyliveathome,itcanbehardforchildrentomovethemintoanadultcarefacility.Theremaybeanotheroption.Sometimesthehomecanbemodifiedsoaparentcanstaythere.Forexample,Baldocchiputinachairliftforhermother.Shealsoarrangedforahomecaregiver.[H]Familycaregiverstakeovermanyresponsibilities.Onemightmanageaparent’sfinances,whileanothersiblingwilltaketheparenttodoctorsappointmentsandshopping.Thosewhomoveinwithaparenttakeonasignificantandsustainedburdenofcare.JanWalkermovedintohermother’shomeinLeesburg,Fla.Afterhermother,whois83,hadfallen,shewasn’tabletogetaroundaswell.Walker,55,hasthreebrothers.Butsheistheonlydaughter,isdivorcedandhasnochildren.“IalwaysknewthatthiswastherolethatIwouldhave,andIguessmymindwaspreparedforit,”saysWalker,whonowisafull-timecaregiverandworksfromhomeasatutorialinstructorforadigitalscrapbookingwebsite.“Whenyougetintothetrenches,it’sliterallybaptismbyfire,”shesays.“Newthingscomeup.It’snotjustaboutadvanceplanningforfinancesormedicalcare.It’severything,”shesays.[I]Caregiversneedtoalsowatchtheirownhealth.“Thereissuchathingascaregiverburnout,”Conasays.Amongfemalecaregivers50andolder,20%reportedsymptomsofdepression,accordingtoa2010studyonworkingcaregiversbyMetLife.“It’sahardjob,”Walkersays.3“Butmostworthwhilethingsarehard.ShewasalwaysthereformewhenIneededahelpinghand.It’sonlynaturalthatIbehereforhernow.”46.Whenelderlyparentscannotliveathomesafely,theirchildren