Are you part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for children and also anticipating when your aging parents may need your care? Or maybe you’re an aging parent trying to remain as independent as possible, despite inevitable changes ahead. Whatever your place in your intergenerational family, it is time to launch an ongoing conversation, if you haven’t already. What are your hopes and fears? What will you do when driving becomes uncomfortable or memory is slipping or preparing healthy meals seems difficult? What about end-of-life plans and directives?

 

Carey Lindeman, owner of Promise Care, has worked on these issues with families for seventeen years and brings wise, practical guidance to her conversation with Marti & Erin. Her most important advice? Start early, before concerns arise. And, for adult children, ask, don’t tell your aging parents what should happen.

 

ARE YOU SEEING CHANGES IN YOUR PARENTS' HEALTH, STRENGTH, MEMORY OR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING?

Are your parents simply at an age when you know you should anticipate changes? How could you initiate some open, supportive conversations about how you and your parents can navigate change in a way that maintains healthy intergenerational relationships, safety for aging parents, and as much freedom of choice as possible, given parents’ capacities?

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TALKING WITH AGING PARENTS? 

❉ TALKING WITH AGING PARENTS. Read Dr. Marti Erickson's helpful tips on talking with your aging parents.

❉ BEING MORTAL: ILLNESS, MEDICINE, AND WHAT MATTERS IN THE END by Atul Gawande. Check out Marti's favorite book on end-of-life issues.

❉ ELDERHOOD: REDEFINING AGING, TRANSFORMING MEDICINE, REIMAGINING LIFE by Louise Aronson. Using stories, history, science, and popular culture, Louise Aronson sheds hopeful new light on aging in this book.

❉ FIVE WISHES. This organization provides resources for advanced care planning.

❉ POSITIVE APPROACH TO CARE (PAC) & WISDOM FROM TEEPA SNOW. Learn more about PAC and Teepa Snow's work to increase awareness, improve care skills, and support those living with dementia in positive and respectful ways.