When families start talking about future care, they often end before they really begin. The conversation usually jumps straight to a destination: stay at home or move somewhere else. Before long, someone says the thing…

With considerable help from my wife, Patrice, I admitted my mother to a home specializing in memory care nearly nine years ago. We worked to understand, then wind up Mom’s everyday affairs; prepare a plan…

Losing someone is one of life’s most difficult experiences. In the days immediately following a death, emotions often feel overwhelming, yet there are still important responsibilities that need your attention. Between making arrangements, notifying family…

I grew up hearing my grandmother say that she was afraid of dying. As she would put it, “If death were rest, I would rather live tired.” My grandmother was always a spirited person, with…

As someone who does research on health care through the end of life, I get into a lot of conversations with people who are looking for advice as they face difficult decisions. People reach out…

 5 Money Lessons From People Caring for Their Elderly Parents  This New York Times article explores the challenges of planning for aging parents, with Dr. Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal, pointing readers to The Conversation Project’s…