Readers of People magazine were wowed earlier this year by the touching story of a California man who cared for his elderly neighbor in the last days of her life.
Chris Salvatore, 31, became close with Norma Cook, 89, over the last four years because they’re neighbors in West Hollywood.
Norma was diagnosed with leukemia 10 years ago and has no immediate family in the area. (She divorced at 43 without any children.)
So when doctors said she had only a few months to live, Chris stepped up as power of attorney and caretaker for Norma. He even raised money to move her into his apartment so he could provide in-home care for Norma!
Sadly, Norma passed away on Feb. 15, but the story of Chris caring for her in the waning days of her life captured people’s hearts.
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End-of-life financial discussion points
Maybe you’ve got an elderly loved one in your life. It could be a parent or another family member who is like a parent to you. Or it could be a neighbor, like in Chris’ case.
Very few people like to think about the end, but there’s an uncontested 100% chance that we’re all going to die someday. A little preplanning can go a long way in alleviating the burdens both financial and emotional on your loved ones.
If you’re dealing with an aging or sick parent, having ‘the talk’ is never easy. But it is necessary. So when you’re ready to broach the topic, here are some pointers on questions to ask courtesy of Montana State University Extension.
Read more: Sharing a bank account with an elderly parent can be risky
