Chapter 9: Time to move closer to the kids

As senior citizens begin to age, moving closer to the kids most likely becomes an option. You have to think about your parent's income and if they can afford to pay for their living arrangements or not. During this period there may be many disagreements and you should not allow it to hinder your relationship. Of course when talking to your parent about moving out of their home, which has most likely been their comfort zone for many years, there will be some issues and it may take time for them to agree, or they may never agree, but you have to do what's in their best interest. If you happen to take over a parents finances, the important thing to do is to keep them up to date, so they feel involved and they still know that they have some type of involvement in their lives. My grandmother lived in Jamaica all her life and most of her children lived close to her so she was always with her family so that was never a problem for her. She lived very comfortably during the last days, all her kids went to be with her, and they reminisced and it was very nice. I enjoyed visiting my grandmother whenever we got the chance to, and hear her and my aunts and uncles stories about their younger years. Liberman talks about how his mother was hasty at first but in the end she let him invest her money and in the long run it was the best thing for her. He kept her updated and she never questioned him about anything dealing with her finances because she gained trust with him and she knew she could depend on him. When parents make a move, they know they are making a change and of course it will take time to adjust but just with everything else you just have to have patience.

Leslie-Ann Ellington