Grandparents are special. This sentiment was echoed repeatedly across the wide and varied sample of people I interviewed, asking them to share a grandparent story, a special tradition, or a treasured memory. The names people attach to their grandparents vary extensively, sometimes according to heritage – sometimes by favour. But the feelings of nostalgia, love and belonging were unmistakably universal. Here are just a few of the sentiments people shared:
Recently at a celebration of a friend’s 50th birthday, I was surprised to learn that three of us at the gathering were in blended families and are experiencing tension related to family decision-making.
It’s no secret, aging often comes with a heaping helping of grief, frustrations, and annoying limitations. But the truth is, getting old also comes with a fair number of benefits. Here are the Top 10 Perks I uncovered when I set out to discover what seniors like most about being exactly where they are in life.
In Part-One of this series we discussed the steps of creating an estate plan, the importance of having a will, and the practice of gifting assets while living.
Let’s face it… estate planning is no one’s favourite topic. It takes time and thoughtful consideration, and there are costs associated with implementing an estate plan. However, this process is a critical part of protecting one’s life savings and assets and of paramount importance to people, especially as they age.
A move can create a great deal of stress for anyone at any age, but it’s especially challenging for aging people. If you have made the decision to relocate your elderly parents and this step involves selling their home, read on.
It can be a difficult process for families when the time comes to sell your aging parents’ home and transition them to a new living situation. If there are several family members involved in this process, there will likely be varied opinions and this may lead to family conflict.
Often this transition is tied to denial that a person is experiencing confusion, or noticing a diminished ability to handle their own affairs. Ideally, before this happens, when a loved one is reaching later senior years, it is wise to begin having conversations with them about who they feel they can trust to handle their affairs should they become unable. Without pressing or persuading a loved one to act outside of their comfort zone, discussing the need to appoint a Power of Attorney is highly recommended.
For many seniors, diminished ability to deal with their money and personal business is of paramount concern. If possible, the best solution for most elderly people is to engage a trusted family member in the process of paying bills and tending to financial obligations early on. This step, along with subsequent collaborative actions, can bring much needed resolve to the stress of managing finances during senior years. If your senior loved one is coming to a stage where they need this kind of help, the following measures are worth considering:
Special holidays often bring families together and while reunions can be joyful, sometimes they also bring to light some concerning changes occurring in the lives of our senior loved ones. Specifically, family members may notice that their loved one is not managing well on their own and would fare better – even flourish – in a retirement living environment.