“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Nowhere is this more true than in my professional world. 

A crisis can arise in many ways.  The most obvious example is the unexpected passing of a loved one.   But what about a stroke, a serious fall or even the diagnosis of a life altering health condition? At that point, important options may evaporate.

Last column I discussed the challenge for both parent and child as an aging parent loses the ability to care for him or herself. In some cases, the parent may have only nominal limitations.  In others, a parent may be fully incapacitated.      

A parent may be mentally capable of handling any situation; and physically capable of handling most.  However, due to limited mobility -- for example – assistance is still necessary.  A trip to the bank now requires coordination of the parents and child’s schedule.  Even when a child is willing to transport an otherwise immobile parent, it is not always convenient . . . for either party.