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Talking To Your Aging Parents About Their Final Wishes

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A recent survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that nearly 70 percent of adult children have not talked to their parents about issues related to aging and end of life. Experts recommend that discussions about end of life issues should take place when things are going well, before there is a crisis and decisions must be made hastily. Use the “40/70” rule, aging experts say. If you are over 40 and your parents are over 70, you need to be talking about the issues older people face. According to another AARP study, most elderly parents actually feel better about having these kinds of discussions as part of their planning for the future. Such discussions, they say, help them live life the way they wish.

Tips for talking with aging parents

Recommended Reading: How To Care For Aging Parents by Virginia Morris. A very comprehensive resource on the medical, emotional, legal and financial issues involved in caring for an elderly parent.

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