Category Archives: Caring for Older Adults

The Six Guidelines for Getting to Yes

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In their bestselling book, Getting to Yes, authors Roger Fisher and William Ury share guidelines for “negotiating agreement without giving in.” The skills and techniques described are useful in any situation requiring give and take, but they are especially valuable when facing obstacles that often arise in accessing healthcare. Described below are actual client scenarios… Read on…

You Can Always Say No

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In certain industries, we are naturally suspicious about the incentives a salesperson might have to “sell” a product. Car dealers and insurance salespeople come to mind. In healthcare, by contrast, we assume that recommendations being made by providers are in our best interest and we seldom question them. Instead, we passively agree to whatever plan of care,… Read on…

Managing as a “Solo Ager”

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“Solo agers” (also known as “elder orphans” — not my favorite!) is a term often used to describe an adult over the age of about 55 who does not have a spouse, adult child, or close family member on whom they can rely to provide practical, physical, and/or emotional support regarding medical or financial decisions… Read on…

Managing a Loved One’s Care from Afar

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It is hard enough to manage the care of an older adult loved one when they are nearby. Being at a distance — a situation that describes 15% of all caregiver relationships and that is estimated to increase significantly over the next few years — only compounds things in terms of both expense and emotional distress. … Read on…