Caring for Self & Others

For too many, planning for a GoodEnding takes second place to the more immediate need of caring for an aging parent, a loved one, or even oneself. This has hit home within our own families. We have researched and selected new living arrangements following the death of one parent. We have put in place transportation alternatives, hired caregivers and had to decide when and when not to have a loved one taken to the hospital or to see a specialist. We have also spent far too many hours dealing with money matters, including the fallout from attempted scams and fraud. We hope the information and links assembled here prove useful to others and welcome suggested addenda using the Contact Us page. For personalized help (and some excellent videos), we recommend BJ Miller’s Mettle Health. For a fee, their team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains provide hour-long confidential consultations to help deal with issues ranging from the practical, to the emotional, to the existential, particularly palliative care.

Two excellent practical guides for thinking about and dealing with the stages of one’s own or a loved one’s later life and death are BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger’s A Beginner’s Guide to the End, and Katy Butler’s, The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life. They are both wonderful reads with inspiring stories and practical advice. Each book also includes an extensive appendix of useful resources.

The SCAN Foundation’s 10 Things publication covers a broad range of topics on “Aging with Dignity and Independence”.

DailyCaring also has a good website with practical caregiving tips. However, unlike GoodEnding and the SCAN Foundation, DailyCaring makes money from advertising; DailyCaring’s information appears to be unbiased, however, the frequent pop-ups and ads can be annoying.

It’s also a good idea to prepare for emergencies. The American Red Cross’s Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults offers valuable guidance.

Care for Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients is beyond the scope of GoodEnding. For those facing this issue, we recommend the not-for-profit Alzheimer’s Association.

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Living Arrangements

In an ideal world, we would all grow old in our own homes, supported by loved ones and dying peacefully in bed. In reality, this is rarely the case. Aging frequently necessitates alternative living arrangements. What are the options? Which are most appropriate given one’s circumstances?

Support Technology

Technology for seniors continues to improve and can both extend the time one can live independently and provide monitoring and reassurance to concerned loved ones. What tools are available?

Transportation

Reliable and affordable transportation is essential for maintaining the independence and health of seniors. While awaiting self-driving cars there are a variety of options for seniors needing transportation.

Money Matters

Safeguarding and managing a senior’s finances are fraught with pitfalls. Many seniors fall prey to scams and fraud. Here are some suggested approaches and tools to protect a loved one’s GoodEnding.