It seems that our world becomes increasingly complex with each passing day. Whether it is deciphering a form to request that medical records be sent to a new specialist or determining whether to accept the insurance on a rental car, we find ourselves confronted with decisions at every turn. As a daily money manager I...Read More

Recently, I’ve found myself working with several client families who are deciding where and how they (or their aging parent) should live as they age. While each situation differs in some important ways from the others, there is a set of common tools that work well in this situation. If you are thinking about this...Read More

A great deal of time and attention often go into creating your “end of life documents” such as your will, health care directive, or durable power of attorney. However, more and more people are creating a non-legal document to add to their “end of life” portfolio, an ethical will. The ethical will is an ancient...Read More

The role of family caregiver is filled with emotions, both joyful and trying. Yet as anyone who has served in this role for a spouse, parent, or other family member or close friend knows, it is the negative emotions associated with caregiving that seem to have the biggest impact in the moment. When working with...Read More

So often, aging parents intellectually know that their current living situation isn’t right for them anymore but seem unable to take the steps necessary to do something about it. Studies consistently show that most people would like to live independently in their own residence for as long as possible. While this makes sense in the...Read More

A just published book for adult children and their aging parents is “The Daughter Trap: Taking Care of Mom and Dad … and You” by Laurel Kennedy. This is a valuable resource for all adult children, daughters and sons alike. Ms. Kennedy bases her work on hundreds of interviews with baby boomers in the thick...Read More

John and Jane Smith (names and some of the personal details changed to preserve the privacy of those involved) are a lovely couple in their mid-seventies who became southwest Florida snowbirds in 1996 and permanent residents in 2002. When I met them, the Smiths were both healthy and engaged in an active lifestyle. Their two...Read More

Visiting your aging parents over this holiday season provides a wonderful opportunity to create memories and to take a good look at how they are doing. Make sure you take advantage of this time to do both, especially if you live at a distance and don’t get to see them often. Perhaps the most important...Read More

Dear Sheri: My husband recently passed away and he always handled our household bills and budget. I don’t even know where to begin to get everything in order. Is there someone who can help me with this? Intimidated Irene Dear Irene: First off, please accept my condolences to you on your loss. It may help...Read More