With any luck, your parents will live to a ripe—if somewhat dependent—old age. With candor and planning—and a little more luck—caring for them can be not only doable but gratifying.

Age can transform even the most loving, self-sufficient parent into a churning ocean of need. Watching from the shore, you often feel as if you'd drown if forced to jump in. Experts say, however, that caregiving doesn't have to become an overwhelming burden. The trick is to deal with some of the biggest dilemmas now while your parents are still healthy.


There are five things to do now to prepare for caring for an aging parent.