Facing the Finish: A Road Map for Aging Parents and Adult Children

I had hoped for more discrete, actionable advice on how to prepare for the aging years of myself or a loved one. While the appendix does have a list of items needed in a “Life Transition Plan” (documents, accounts, etc.) it felt brief and somewhat cursory. The author writes to both Adult Children (those whose parents are approaching or entering old age) and to Older Adults, addressing the issues that will inevitably arise as both generations age. She encourages both to start making plans now and work together for the best interests of everyone. Sometimes that is a difficult line for her to walk; the reality is, for many families the desires of the Older Adult or of the Adult Children will not align.

The various topics cover Making Decisions ; Dealing with Family; Caregiving; Housing; Health Care; and Money. The author is, I feel, too quick to suggest outsourcing for help in making these critical decisions to, for example, a life transition coach (of which she is one) or an outside money manager, but it was helpful to learn of the existence of such professionals. To really get into the details of preparing for the end, I will need to keep looking. Still, I appreciate this book to start a conversation, and start to put plans in place that will alleviate a lot of pain and uncertainty when the crisis hits.