As I prepare my kids to head off to college, I've been struck by how similar the process feels to helping an older adult–often a parent–decide where they will live as they age. In both cases, the decision can feel monumental. It's about more than choosing a location–it's choosing a lifestyle, a community, and a future. And in both cases, the person making the decision might not be ready [...]
The holidays are meant to be a time of joy, laughter, and family togetherness. However, they can also bring to light underlying family issues that need to be addressed, such as aging and the care of elderly parents. Even in well-adjusted families, navigating these conversations can be challenging due to a variety of factors, including emotional baggage, power struggles and the fear of conflict. Add to the mix children from [...]
You are seeing signs of decline. Maybe it’s a lack of sharpness remembering things. It could be unsteadiness on a flight of stairs. The alarms in your head tell you that you need to talk to your aging parent(s) about the realities of their future living and care situation before a crisis arises. It is rarely an easy conversation. But, to ensure that your parents can maintain their independence for [...]
July is the month we celebrate independence. As we age, living life on our own terms takes on greater significance. Yet while everyone wants to be independent, the reality is, if you do not plan for it the price of independence becomes too steep for all involved. It is often adult children that are left with a HUGE mess. Consider this scenario. Mom and Dad retire and move to a [...]
Richard* is an affluent retiree living on his own. He"'s in his mid-80s and appears fine physically but he"'s starting to slow down and make some mistakes. Richard"'s daughter, Meg,* knows this and keeps tabs on her dad by checking in regularly either on the phone or in person. One day, Richard has a fall which requires a trip to the emergency room and he"'s subsequently admitted to the [...]
It"'s normal to worry about your parents"' financial future if they haven"'t filled you in with any specifics. You know that with aging comes declining physical and cognitive abilities. And you want to make sure they"'re financially protected for the long term as they move through their golden years. But broaching the subject about their current and future finances is far from easy. It can seem like you"'re intruding in [...]
Are you an adult child of parents (or a parent) who want to age in place – who don"'t want to leave their home? Are you concerned because you are not sure if this is the best option for them? You"'re definitely far from alone. As we"'ve mentioned before, about 90 percent of Americans 65 and older wish to live out their golden years in their home for as long [...]
Whether it"'s been a while since you"'ve seen your parents or you are able to visit them regularly, would you know if there was a problem with them living independently? You might not. Sometimes the signs are subtle and don"'t fully arise until bigger problems occur. Early Action The best time to help your loved ones stay living independently is by catching problems in the early stages when they might [...]
After a long, hard year, the time has finally arrived for some families who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 to reunite. Maybe loved ones have been in an assisted living facility where the doors were closed to visitors until recently. Or maybe senior parents living on their own have been vaccinated and they feel safe to spend time together again. Whatever the reason, many families can’t wait to get back together. [...]
Holidays are about families coming together in celebration. This time of year also offers an opportunity to hold a family meeting to address the needs of aging parents. Bringing the family support network together is a crucial step in planning for the aging process or addressing immediate concerns. Just as you dedicate time and energy to planning holiday gatherings, you can apply similar efforts for family meetings. Here are family [...]
