You’ve probably heard the expression, “You’ll have to take me out of here in a box.” You may even have heard it from your own parents.
Reality, sadly, often gets in the way of this desire. To put it bluntly, some people outlive their ability to look after themselves at home and necessarily need to move into some form of aged care late in their life.
Rather than pretending this will never happen, it is far healthier, and potentially much less stressful for everyone in a family, if you can have a frank, “What if the worst happens?” conversation ahead of time, just in case.
Believe me, this is much better than being forced to make hasty decisions on the run in an already high-pressure situation.
Let’s look at the elements of “The Conversation”. Who should be having it, and when?
Ideally, The Conversation is something that you and any siblings will have together with your parents. It should happen when everyone is in a good state of mind and obviously while everyone – especially the older generation – has the mental capacity to be discussing serious matters.
Try not to spring it on your parents. Flag it ahead of time and arrange a suitable time and location. Ideally, this won’t be the parents’ home, where emotional attachment might make the idea of leaving unbearable (and/or it is too easy for Mum to distract herself making tea). Perhaps make an occasion of it – a nice lunch at a quiet restaurant?
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Money Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Money Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is the public market shrinking?
Australia needs a healthy stock market to give companies access to funds and to allow retail investors to build wealth.
India: three steps to transformation
Massive investment and extensive reforms turbocharge the economy.
The ballet of business
Changing direction, products, models and marketing is a hard task for a business. We chart what it takes to turn a business around, plus profile four successful pivots.
Save money and the planet
Could the high cost of living give us the incentive we need to reduce how much water and energy we use or waste? These eco-friendly household tips will help you do just that.
AI adoption is the new black
Artificial intelligence is set to reshape the commercial world, and small enterprises can’t afford to miss the boat.
Spam attack! Murky laws jam our inboxes
Unwanted marketing material is one of the pain points of modern life.
From rags to riches in style
Rich Tran sported a bowl cut until he was 14 years old and had no intention of becoming a hairdresser.
New work deals are killing the 'old' office
The Covid pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns accelerated the trend to more people working from home. It was a mixed experience.
Points taken: the truth about rewards
Can hopping between credit cards really boost your frequent flyer haul and give you cheap or free travel - or is it doing more harm than good behind the scenes? Money puts it to the test.
Shortcuts to own a home
Innovative ideas with a focus on low costs and sustainability could help solve the housing crunch.