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Caring for an aging parent can raise a host of tricky questions, but these conversation-starting scripts, plus expert advice, will help you and your parent find answers.
Age-proofing an older relative’s living space, figuring out powers of attorney, spotting and dealing with signs of dementia, asking them to give up the car keys or consider assisted living . . . the first step toward tackling these concerns and more is an honest, informed discussion.
Here are prompts and road maps for twenty-seven essential conversations—with your parent, other family members, and health care providers—including:
- Does my parent need help around the house?
- What kind of medical issues should we look out for?
- Do I really need to help my parents if they’re toxic?
- How can my family share the caregiving load?
How to approach these topics is just as important as what needs to be said, so each chapter has tips for navigating complex emotions and finding shared ground when everyone has different ideas. You’ll get informed, have a productive discussion, and make a plan—so you can get back to making the most of your time with your parent.
Wall Street Journal Best Book on Aging 2024
Instant #2 Globe & Mail Bestseller
“In down-to-earth language, Laura Tamblyn Watts, a lawyer and chief executive of Can Age, proposes helpful scripts for having a host of often-prickly conversations about the health and safety of our parents.”—The Wall Street Journal
“A highly recommended resource that tackles the many aspects of caregiving for an aging parent. . . . chock-full of practical solutions to the many situations that may arise.”—Library Journal, starred review
“Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of the seniors advocacy group CanAge, offers a practical guide to some common but very delicate situations.”—Toronto Star
“[Let’s Talk About Aging Parents] is set up to coach readers through big steps such as moving into a home and smaller ones such as when it’s time to stop driving. . . . What you’ll hear as you work through this book is the voice of experience.”—The Globe and Mail
“Being thrust into the role of caregiver for an aging parent (or two) can be challenging, overwhelming even. There are so many questions and so much fear. Thankfully, Laura Tamblyn Watts provides many of the answers—guiding us from ‘The Talk’ about moving from the family home to a care home, to the sensitive discussion about whether it’s time to stop driving, to the joys of toileting. This is a book whose practical tips will save you many a sleepless night.”—André Picard, health columnist for The Globe and Mail and author of Neglected No More: The Urgent Need To Improve The Lives of Canada’s Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic
“As an international leader in aging, Laura Tamblyn Watts invites us to join her on a journey supporting the older adults in our lives. Her vital questions and practical tips help us navigate caregiving with grace, humor, dignity, love, and joy. As I discuss what’s next with my own aging mother, this book is a lifeline filled with sample scripts and pragmatic charts. And as a lifelong advocate for survivors of abuse, I appreciate how this book addresses topics like elder and sexual abuse head on, with compassion and sensitivity. I wholeheartedly recommend this guide to the current and next generations of care providers and family members.”—Bonnie Brandl, founder and former director of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
“With her characteristic wit and panache, Laura Tamblyn Watts had me laughing, shouting, weeping, and reading with my jaw dropped. She tells real, relatable stories and offers concrete actions that all of us can take. I can’t wait to share this book with my friends and family.”—Gregor Sneddon, executive director of HelpAge Canada
“This is a profound, astute book that resonates with readers from all walks of life. It provides unique insights on our aging population and brings the realities so many families are facing to the surface, offering a strong foundation for engaging in a conversation that we all need to have. It’s real, it hits home, and it’s on point.”—Kahir Lalji, certified professional gerontologist, vice chair of HelpAge Canada, and provincial director of government relations and programs at United Way British Columbia
“This book comes at a significant time as we work toward providing better support for our aging population, and as a new caregiver myself, I relate very strongly to the subjects it covers. Tamblyn Watts includes all the topics that are vitally important to anyone who is caring for an aging parent. She navigates challenging issues with eloquence, demonstrating profound empathy and understanding on each page.”—Alex Mihailidis, scientific director of AGE-WELL and professor at the University of Toronto
