Let’s take one couple, Tom and Louise, who have been married to each other for over 50 years and live in the same home they bought when they first got married.
About 40 million people are helping to care for older relatives and friends. Some leave their jobs to do so, and some end up as live-in caregivers. All give up much of their personal freedom. Should they be paid for their work?
People frequently hear that they should visit their attorney to have their wills and other important legal documents prepared, but many people procrastinate. Therefore, if you’re in that group, do not feel like you’re alone.
This is a sad reminder that families who don’t agree on end-of-life measures can cause friction and additional grief, at a time when unity should be a primary concern.
As lifespans increase, our elders grow in number, and government elder benefits become more politically tenuous, the need for empathetic family elder caregivers keeps increasing.