“Loving Senior Transitions: The Top Five Questions Baby Boomers Need to Ask to Help Aging Loved Ones”
by Ruth Fennell

Are you a mature child facing the prospect of helping aging loved ones?

Do you know where to go for help?

Do you know what questions to ask and where to find the answers?

This book can give you the answer to those questions and more!

Question One: What’s really going on?
Serves to narrow the focus on the senior’s environment, state of mind, physical abilities, and mental abilities. By looking at the various elements that encompass these key aspects of a senior’s life, the family can look at the cause(s) of concern. By Observing, Asking questions, and Researching resources, they can positively assess the beginning points for testing, diagnosing and dealing with these areas.

Question Two: Who should be involved in the decision-making process? And do they want to be?
Looks at the roles of possible decision-makers and caregivers: Immediate family, Blended family, Extended family, and “Like” family. Determining who should be brought into the decision-making process is an important next step to constructively working toward involving appropriate parties who care about the senior. Also, exploring Proximity, Expertise, and Tangibles will influence who takes on what responsibilities.

Question Three: What experts should be consulted?
Examines everything from transportation, meals, organizing, real estate, remodeling, medical, finances, credit / lending, financial planning, estate planning, legal, identity theft, physical therapy, hospice, and grief to the national, state, and local resources that are available. By providing multiple suggestions for starting points, families can begin to learn what senior-knowledgeable experts exist, what credentials to look for, and what information to seek out.

Question Four: Are you looking short-term, interim, or long-term?
Considers the situation from a “time” perspective. Is the situation you are dealing with temporary and will be resolved shortly? Do you just need to “make do” for now? Do you need to have a “stop-gap” solution while you look at other possibilities? Do you need to think about long-term resolutions? Researching options in advance will help the family be prepared for all potential outcomes. Looking at possible family contributions, at-home care, community services, adult day care services, housing alternatives, such as independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities, active adult communities, retirement priorities, and even pets will help families think through the choices. Anticipating changing concerns while keeping things in perspective will help reduce everyone’s stress levels.

Question Five: Are you doing the best you can?
Forces the parties involved to Forgive, Accept, and Release the outcomes that they have no control over. Assuming positive intent and making the senior’s needs the priority will aim for ultimate peace of mind with no regrets!

About Ruth Fennell: After 12 years in the corporate Training and HR environment, Ruth is currently an active REALTOR® and instructor in the Nashville area. She has seventeen real estate designations in a variety of areas, and she is also a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR) and the Real Estate Educators Association (REEA).

Ruth teaches real estate pre-licensing courses and designation courses, such as the Seniors (50+ years) Real Estate Specialist (SRES) class. She is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and helps families work constructively with the variety of issues that stem from aging family members. Plus, she has the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the National Association of Home Builders. In addition, Ruth is a frequent speaker on the Senior Market at real estate conferences. Because of her passion for helping seniors and their families, she has also just released a new e-book, Loving Senior Transitions: The Top Five Questions Baby Boomers Need to Ask to Help Aging Loved Ones which will provide families with suggestions, easy references and internet links to almost 500 resources.