What Are We Going To Do About Mum (Or Dad)?

About this book

Most families don’t plan for this. Then one day the phone rings, and suddenly you’re the one making decisions about doctors, money, where Mum or Dad will live - and how much longer they can manage on their own. For Ann Gerrard, there was another question too: how do you care for a mother who wasn’t there when you needed her? Drawing on her own journey and over 30 years in healthcare, Ann offers honest, practical guidance for every stage of caring for an aging parent - Mum or Dad - or any loved one, from the first conversation to the final goodbye. Inside, you’ll find: The conversation nobody wants to have Wills, Powers of Attorney and the money talk - before you need them Home, retirement living or long-term care - how to decide Doctors, hospitals and the medical maze Sibling dynamics, anticipatory grief and caring for yourself Palliative care, MAID and what to expect at the end Free printable checklists and tools for every stage And woven through it all, the story of how, in the end, her mother gave her something she never expected. For every family facing this journey - so you can walk it less alone, more equipped, and quietly ready.