Denial of death can be a huge barrier to preparing ahead for loss. I hear from many adult sons and daughters that their Baby Boomer parents “don’t want to talk about it”. They ask me “How do I bring up these issues that are in your book with my parents while they are well and in good health so we can prepare ahead of time? Everyone gets very uncomfortable”. I agree. It’s not easy, but I can tell you from personal experience it’s much more painful if a plan including-paperwork/wills, established advisors for various issues, and discussion of “what if” scenarios-are not in place or discussed. No one wants to think about dying, but if family members don’t- the surviving family members will have to face the unanswered questions without the loved one’s input or advice.

Today’s Financial Times newspaper listed a story that caught my eye called “When Death is a Reminder to Live”. (more…)

I often get asked a variation of the following question so I wanted to post the question and list some suggestions since the situation seems to be a growing issue:

“My mom is really stressed about my grandma in her nineties who is in a rehabilitation center. Over the past month she has begun to deteriorate tremendously. She has no pain but she is super weak and can’t live on her own. I feel bad for my mom but I don’t know what to say since she calls me almost everyday with the same news my grandma just keeps getting weaker. Besides being an only child, my dad isn’t very supportive so she tells me everything. I wish she could join a support group for children of aging parents or something. Any other advice?”- thanks, Jane, a 30-something female (more…)