Let’s Talk About Aging Parents

I'm one of probably thousands of people who are at the point in their lives where we have do deal with the fact that our parents are facing difficulties in their independence. For years I have worried about what I was going to have to do at that point, much less how was I going to do it. It's incredibly difficult to realize that no one else is going to make the decisions, and that it's going to really hurt to take away my parent's freedoms.
Watts does a very good job of laying out the entire idea. How to recognize that your folks need help. How to find ways to help them. How to legally help them with decisions that they might not be able to make on their own. And, probably most importantly, how to have the difficult discussions with your parents. She gives good examples of how to approach the talks, giving little scripts that you might choose to follow.
I'm still dreading the discussions, but I feel like this book helped prepare me to have them.
Very easily readable and understandable, I read the entire book in one night. If you find yourself in this situation, I think this book could really help you.

Incredibly useful content presented in an accessible way. Many of us feel completely in the dark about how to approach life with aging parents. This is a good guidebook for how to start conversations early.

This book is a great resource. 5 stars. I hope you don't need to read this book; but it is good to know that if you need this resource, it is available.

This book covers A LOT of topics ... that you honestly (probably) don't want to think about.

I'm in the US, I made MANY calls to see if someone would/could provide the Montreal Assessment. Only one person returned my call and said that they would/could.

In each section author Laura Tamblyn Watts provides several "Conversation Starters" and also provides do's and don'ts for various situations.

I'm very glad that I read this book. I'm probably going to need to re-read some sections (and ignore some others), but I read every word in reviewing Let's Talk About Aging Parents and I'm glad that I did. Aging is constant, likely various sections will be your focus as time progresses.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher The Experiment for approving my request to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Approx 256 pages. Publication date is 4/30/2024.

Change is often difficult to handle, and with aging, comes change. This is an excellent book for anyone with aging parents who might be facing —and trying to unpack—a bewildering spectrum of circumstances. It would also be useful for anyone having conversations with friends who want to talk about the challenges they're facing as their parents age, and would be a thoughtful and supportive gift in this case.

Tamblyn Watts brings a light touch and humor to her discussion, and stresses the importance of maintaining and managing relationships–most importantly with parents, but also with siblings (and other family members), medical staff, caregivers, and others—rather than simply trying to cope with and handle difficult situations.

Using inclusive, frank, and easy-to-understand language, Tamblyn Watts breaks down complex issues with compassion and offers straightforward advice on such topics as 1) the parent's house, home care, and moving out; 2) mental capacity, power of attorney, and safety; 3) love and loss; health, hearing issues, and horrible driving.

She emphasizes that everyone’s parents are different, as are their needs. She offers nuanced and positive approaches to difficult but necessary conversations. She reminds readers of the importance of keeping one’s tone upbeat, reassuring, nonjudgmental, and supportive during these interactions.

One of the most important points that she makes about retirement and long-term care communities is to see beyond the fancy or not-so-fancy appearances of these places, and to evaluate the staff, the philosophy of care, and the level of support and respect of choices given to residents. She underscores that the appeal and quality of the food provided in these settings is incredibly important.

Readers can also use this book for insights into how they can plan for, and be realistic about, their own senior years, and make things easier for all involved.

Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for the early opportunity to read and review this book, and to the author, Laura Tamblyn Watts, for sharing her professional insights and advice.