Planning Dilemmas Archives - Page 3 of 8 - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Failing In Place

July 23, 2016

New arrivals to our caregiver support group confirm what’s being reported in the medical literature. Dementia in the land of aging parents has reached a tipping point and now become the overwhelming concern of 80-90% of our attendees. The vast…

Problems Versus Dilemmas Of Aging Parents

June 29, 2016

Although demanding and stressful, the problems of aging can be contained or eliminated. Lost prescriptions can be refilled. Unsafe staircases can be modified. Transportation for an unscheduled medical testing can be arranged. Solving problems means eliminating uncertainty and most caregivers…

The Context of Caregivers of Aging Parents

June 27, 2016

I was asked to write an article about the context of caregivers of aging parents. What’s the scope and depth of their role? What are the issues they have to navigate every day? I found it was easier to create…

Control Assets

June 25, 2016

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust As aging boomers are quickly discovering, the end game of being old is a non-linear quest to preserve control against overwhelming odds.…

The Rejected Power of Attorney

June 3, 2016

It turns out that the power of attorney you so carefully arranged for an aging parent may be rejected by their bank or brokerage firm because it wasn’t drafted on their form. Of course you find this out when your…

What’s the “game plan” for seeing the doctor?

April 22, 2016

When seeing the doctor, you can hope for the best or you can plan for the best. Either way, you’re going to put in the time taking care of your health. The article below By Leana Wen, M.D. an emergency…

Boomers: It’s All How You Get There

March 17, 2016

“The perception is that the baby boomers are very active — they are, you know, climbing up mountains, and they are a very healthy bunch,” says King, a professor in the department of family medicine at the West Virginia University…

How do you start the conversation about finances with aging parents?

January 9, 2016

1. Begin the conversation with a clear acknowledgement that you understand that control is critical to their wellbeing and you fully support their need to have it. Care giving conversations can quickly turn threatening to older adults who are hypersensitive…

Caregiver Dilemma: Moving Beyond the Wake Up Call

January 2, 2016

Popular media is abuzz with wake up calls for adult children. Framed as warnings, they detail the impending crisis that comes with caring for aging parents. While provoking anxiety and concern, they are ineffective as a call to action. It’s…

A New Dilemma of Aging: Nursing Homes Refusing To Admit Obese Patients

December 16, 2015

This article is a bellwether warning for older adults about who may and may not be offered a bed in a nursing home in a society with an epidemic morbid obesity. As the authors summarize: “Obesity is redrawing the common…