HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: AVOID AGING PARENTS BECOMING A BURDEN Written by Linda LaPointe
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: AVOID AGING PARENTS BECOMING A BURDEN word count: 392 By not planning for future we guarantee that we will leave our children with a tremendous burden. Just about time they are preparing for their own retirement and their children's college education, adult children often are overwhelmed with decision-making for their aging parents. As a long term care administrator I heard it daily, “I don’t want to be a burden to my children.” But unintentionally most of us make it even harder for our children by not clearly defining our wishes or preferences. We can help them out by asserting control over our future health care, residential choices, and even how we will die. There are specific and discrete steps we can take to shape our own destiny. Many of these tasks only take a few moments of your time, some take a little research and others may require professional assistance. None of them are extremely costly or difficult. So why don't more of us do this type of planning? Seniors are concerned about losing control of their life and being a burden to their grown children but many just don't know what to do. For instance, majority of people want to die at home, but very few do. Become familiar with your options and make your preferences known while thinking clearly, while free from pain and prior to an emergency or crisis.
| | HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: HAPPY TIMES, RIGHT? Written by Linda LaPointe
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: HAPPY TIMES, RIGHT? WORD COUNT: 285 This time of year is supposed to be happy. A time when family is warm and welcoming. A time for loving and feeling loved. We watch annual TV specials which emotionally choke us up. We watch those traditional, mushy movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life which bring sentimental tears to our eyes. We watch those heartwrenching Hallmark commercials which make us sob dramatically. All of these portray ideal and they always end happily. But real life isn’t like that. Watching and listening to all hype and sweetness reminds many of us of our losses. We think of things we won’t have this year, or any year ever again. The holiday season is actually season of much depression and sadness. Just imagine for a moment how many losses a person of 70, 80 or 90 may have endured. To help us understand those losses, here is a partial list.
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