By not planning for the future we guarantee that we will leave our children with a tremendous burden. Just about the 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, the 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.
The loss of a parent is difficult enough for an adult child. We can save them additional grief by doing the following,
You can avoid becoming a burden to your children by taking control of your end of life with as much care, intent and forethought as you have lived the rest of your life.
About The Author
Linda LaPointe, MRA is an ElderLife Matters coach and author of several products to assist families experiencing aging including the pamphlet, Don't Be a Burden: 100 Tips. Get free articles and information at www.sospueblo.com.
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
"I took care of Callie," my three-year-old announced.Callie had been... Read More
A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates... Read More
I look out of the window as I am writing... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
Here's the scene of communication with your child: your three-year-old... Read More
Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
My name is Duncan and I'm 2 years old. I... Read More
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way... Read More
I was reading "A Modern Infant Armada", a humor column... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
A fun way to build your child's imaginationWriting is still... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
So, the thing is? I am feeling a little guilty.I... Read More
Because most teens have not had the experience of getting... Read More
Moms, did you ever question your value as a role... Read More
Parents are losing their self-control to anger. A friend called... Read More
Peaceful Parenting? ideas are very different from other kinds of... Read More
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
There are some grounds to assume that a cognitive dissonance... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
I was reading "A Modern Infant Armada", a humor column... Read More
As I sit here and reflect on the past two... Read More
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No... Read More
Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on... Read More
While most fathers aspire to become the best Dads they... Read More
One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More
When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However,... Read More
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
What exactly makes safety glasses different from regular glasses? There... Read More
My name is Duncan and I'm 2 years old. I... Read More
Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt everyone?Last... Read More
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the... Read More
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
Q: Whenever we tell my daughter "no," she just bugs... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Q. My teenage son is turning 16 early next year... Read More
For the first year or two of life outside the... Read More
Parenting |