In the previous installment of What You Need To Know About Your Aging Parents That No One Wants To Talk About, we explored specific questions to ask your parents about their plans for their elder years. Part of their plan should include 3 key documents: an updated and valid will, a durable power of attorney, and advance directives. These documents can be done online at free websites, pay-per-form websites, or by lawyers or paralegals. Will: This document will make everythi

So you are ready to talk to you parents about their plans for their elder years. You have an opening line and you are ready to listen. But, what are the topics you should cover? Remember, you don't have to talk about all of these subjects at once. It's better to spread them out over several meetings with your parents. The most important things to discuss with your parents are their goals and needs. Once you determine these, they become the basis for all future conversations a

In part two of What You Need To Know About Your Aging Parents That No One Wants To Talk About, we discussed how to start the conversation with your parents about how they want to spend their elder years. Once you start talking, you must be prepared listen. Really listen. What should I say? You don't have to have all of the solutions right away. Just ask your parents questions like: What do you worry about? What do you still enjoy doing that you would like to do more of? Wh

In part one of What You Need To Know About Your Aging Parents That No One Wants To Talk About, we talked about the importance of having a plan in place long before your parents need any level of care. The notion of having a plan is nothing new. The military has an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for everything it does and hospitals have policies and procedures. But the subject of these plans is not as personal or emotional as making a plan for your parents' care in their e

It's hard to think about, but one day your parents are going to get old. Some of you may be thinking, “My parents are already old!” What I mean is, not only will they get old in age, but possibly in mind and body, too. They may lose their memory as with Alzheimer's and dementia, or become disabled due to a heart attack, stroke or diabetes. Either way, it's likely that they will need your help in some way. Then one day, inevitably, they will pass on. No one wants to talk abo