Margot·5 MIN
The first conversation with an aging parent about their finances
How to open the finances conversation with a parent who raised you, what to actually ask, and what to do when they say no
CAREGIVING
Caring for parents
The moment you realize your parents are getting older, and the moment right after that.
Mostly written by Margot and Diane.
In this hub
Margot·5 MIN
Setting up a Medical Power of Attorney: paperwork, pushback, process
What a healthcare proxy actually does, where to download one for free, and what to say when your parent digs in their heels
Margot·5 MIN
What to actually do when a parent gets a scary diagnosis
A field guide for the first 48 hours after the phone call — the paperwork, the second opinion, and the notebook that holds the whole mess together
Margot·5 MIN
When a parent stops driving: the conversation and what happens next
The three signs you can't ignore, the one sentence that lands, and the transportation plan that keeps the decision from unraveling
Margot·5 MIN
Splitting caregiving with a sibling who will not do their share
How to figure out what's fair, what's fair-enough, and how to stop running the tally that's eating you alive
Diane·5 MIN
What to say to a parent who is angry about needing help
The anger isn't really at you. It's at the shower bar, the pill organizer, the whole shrinking map of what they can still do alone
Margot·5 MIN
The Medicare basics your parent will not admit they do not understand
Parts A, B, C, and D translated into English, plus the two enrollment decisions that will actually cost your family real money
Julian·5 MIN
How to help a parent budget when their retirement income drops
A one-page budget, two subscriptions to cut first, and the tone that keeps your parent talking to you instead of hiding the mail
Margot·5 MIN
When to bring up a will, and how to do it without sounding like you are waiting for one
The specific moment, the exact tone, and the follow-up conversation that turns a dreaded talk into something you both actually finish
Frances·5 MIN
How to organize a parent's important documents in one afternoon
The eight folders, the master list, and where to keep the copy that survives a fire — a quiet Sunday project for a hard season
Margot·5 MIN
What "assisted living" actually means and how to visit a facility
The four levels of senior housing, the questions that get real answers on a tour, and what your nose can tell you before the brochure does
Diane·5 MIN
When a parent's cognitive decline starts showing up in small ways
The forgotten appointment isn't the story. The pattern is the story — and here's how to track it and when to call the doctor
Margot·5 MIN
Handling a parent's medications: the pillbox, the pharmacist, the plan
The Sunday-night ritual, the free pharmacist service nobody advertises, and the single drug interaction worth double-checking
Julian·5 MIN
The tax implications of paying for a parent's care
The dependent test, the medical expense deduction, and the moves that actually shrink your federal tax bill
Margot·5 MIN
Long-term-care insurance: when it makes sense and when it does not
The age window, the premium math, and the one coverage question your insurance agent will not raise unless you do
Diane·5 MIN
When your parents disagree with each other about their own care
Your mother wants the surgery. Your father doesn't. You are on the phone at 10 p.m. and somehow this has become your decision to make
Margot·5 MIN
What to say at the funeral home when you have never done this before
The three decisions a funeral director will press you on, the ones that can wait, and the exact question to ask about price