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Parenting Your
Parents

 

 

Course description

Do you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of taking care of your aging parents? What would happen if you learned new skills to bring harmony to the family? This class provides mentoring and step-by-step techniques and strategies. Topics include: The evolving relationship between you and your parents - Confronting independence (e.g., living alone, driving, falls) - Getting cooperation from your siblings - Medical care options - Living arrangement options - Managing the finances - Where to go for support and resources for both yourself, as a caregiver, and your parents. Read lessons, participate in exercises, and hold live interactive discussions with instructor and fellow students in your on-line classroom. Runs for 6 weeks and is self-paced. Complete the lessons on your own timetable. Course requirements include intermediate PC skills. For more information visit www.gsinet.org. Don’t forget to include your email with registration.

 

 

Course outline
Week One 
Tuesday, Lesson 1
Aging parents and you: A new relationship ~ We look at your evolving relationship, learn how to assess your relationship with your parents, and understand the roles you play in your parents' lives.

Friday, Lesson 2
Mutual independence ~ Understand and evaluate your parents' need for independence. You'll learn tips on how to assist them in becoming and remaining functionally independent.

 

Week Two
 Tuesday, Lesson 3
Sharing the responsibilities ~ We’ll discuss sharing the workload among your siblings, in light of your family dynamics and geography. Learn about ways to help your own spouse and family members cope with your new responsibilities in caring for your aging parents. 


Friday, Lesson 4
Maintaining your parents' health ~ Good health is, and should be, a priority in your aging parents' lives. Learn about specific health issues the elderly are likely to develop as they grow older, and the resources available to assist them. 

 

Week Three
 Tuesday, Lesson 5
Financing medical care ~ Alphabet soup in this lesson. We're going to cover Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, HMOs, PPOs, POSs and how to make good choices about health care coverage.

Friday, Lesson 6
Housing options ~ Whether it's downsizing and living with children in a mother-in-law apartment, or finding the right senior community, this lesson covers the options available in living situations.

 

Week Four  
Tuesday, Lesson 7
 Taking care of business ~ learn how to assist your parents in organizing finances and managing money on a day-to-day basis. You'll also learn tips and tricks to keep your parents from being scammed or manipulated by salespeople. 


Friday, Lesson 8
Retirement planning ~ This lesson helps you prepare your family for the future, both financially and legally. We are going to look at asset allocation, wills and trusts, and document retention. 

 

Week Five  
Tuesday, Lesson 9
 Choosing professional advisors ~ At some time or other, every family needs help from a lawyer, as well as a financial planner. This lesson helps you make good decisions about selecting advisors.

Friday, Lesson 10
Planning for long-term care ~ This lesson covers topics that include defining long-term care and how to make a good choice for your parent. In addition, we'll cover long-term-care financing.

Week Six  
Tuesday, Lesson 11
 Death and dying ~ Leaving life with one's affairs in order is considered to be an example of high character. Here, we show you how to make it happen.


Friday, Lesson 12
 Making the most of each day ~ In this final lesson, we'll look at additional resources for caregivers and how to have fun and enjoy life with your parents.

 

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Licensed to www.gsinet.org under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

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