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Boomers and Parents: Bridging The Gap
Talking With Parents About a Lifestyle Change
Understanding The Financial Picture
Which is Smarter: Renting or Buying?
Helping Parents With The Transition
Boomers and Parents:
Bridging The Gap (p. 2)
The great challenge in every "Boomer” family is how to bridge the psychological and emotional gap that becomes more and more prominent with the passage of time. As the child of an aging parent, we usually want our parents to have everything that we, ourselves, will probably demand in our retirement years. We want our parents to have the best of everything. What we must remember, however, is that our parents could probably care less about fulfilling our expectation of what is best for them.
To address this dilemma, the "Boomer” must accept responsibility for directing the process of a lifestyle change for an aging parent. A loving but candid dialogue must be established and a number of decision-making goals must be set. The most important objective in directing the process must be to accelerate the discussion to minimize the anxiety that your parent will feel if there are protracted considerations. You must simplify the issues and rifle the focus. To begin your discussions, determine the following:
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Is your parent still capable of living in his/her current environment? If so, what can you do to improve his/her lifestyle experience?
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Would both you and your parent be more comfortable if he/she was in a community that provides watchful oversight?
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Does your loved one need assistance with one or more functions of daily living, such as eating, grooming, or taking medications?
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Is your parent becoming withdrawn or reclusive? Is he/she getting proper nutrition? Proper exercise?
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Is management of the current household placing a strain on your parent? Is the strain financial, emotional, or both?
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In an ideal world, what would your loved one really like to accomplish with the balance of his/her life? How does that vision compare with what you would like to have them do?
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What would make everyone in the family happy? Proximity to mom, guest bedrooms, family gathering place, etc.?
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Is mom still capable of driving safely, or would she be better served by having someone else provide her transportation?
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Boomers and Parents: Bridging The Gap
Talking With Parents About a Lifestyle Change
Understanding The Financial Picture
Which is Smarter: Renting or Buying?
Helping Parents With The Transition