With the graying of America, the Baby Boom generation is facing an unprecedented challenge: how to make decisions about our aging parents and other loved ones. The general population is living longer than ever, though dying of the same things that have been the major causes of death in the U.S. for many decades: heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Many of our elderly parents are living longer with disabilities, and the gradual erosion of independence at home.
For many of us, the concern about the outcomes of these diseases is eclipsed by the fact that we must figure out how to take care of our elderly loved ones as they grow more infirm, and less able to safely manage on their own, without much guidance from anyone. If you are the “responsible one” in the family, you may find yourself struggling with many questions. Should I put Mom or Dad in a nursing home? An assisted living facility? Should I sell the house? Do I need a conservatorship? How about getting a power of attorney? What if there isn’t enough money? Should I try to take care of him/her at my home? What if she wants to stay at home, but she can’t remember to pay the bills? Where should I start?
