One of the most difficult and emotionally trying decisions that adult children face today is how they're going to care for their aging parents once they're unable to care for themselves. The realization that parents need care is usually precipitated by some traumatic event that leaves the adult child very little time to a make some very important decisions. In most cases, the children are left to make these gut-wrenching, life-changing decisions on their own without much information available to them.
Considering the economic turmoil America is already facing these days, the aging of America is going to be one of the biggest economic and social concerns this country will face over the next 20 years. When the 78 million members of the "Baby Boomer" generation, the largest population group in the history of the United States, begin to retire in 2010, it is estimated that one in five Americans will be 65 years of age or older by 2020. How are we going to care for all these people? And how in the world are we going to pay for it? More and more families across America are dealing with these difficult decisions every day. How we prepare for this unprecedented change today will determine the quality we all enjoy tomorrow.
Researchers are now saying that each of us has a 90% chance of someday caring for our parents, grandparents or other loved ones. Of all the research I've read, I believe this statistic is the most revealing of all.
What are you going to do?
People are incredibly afraid of this subject. Most of this anxiety is created by the fear of the unknown. Knowing what to expect is half the battle. With the release of my new book "When Mom and Dad Need Help", which will be officially released on May 18, 2010, and the use of this blog, my hope is educate as many people as I can about how to plan and prepare for their parents' future long-term care needs.
Please stayed tuned as I will be posting at least twice a week to this blog with relevant content. Please feel free to comment and ask questions and I will try my best to get back to you with a response.
Very truly yours,
Mike Campbell
http://www.iffenwen.com/
