Nov. 16, 2011

USA Today

Home for the Holidays? It May Be Time to Talk Elder Care

Counseling experts are witnessing a 66 percent growth in calls this year from adult children seeking advice on complex medical, legal and financial issues involving aging parents, according to a report being released Wednesday by ComPsych, an international provider of employee-assistance programs to more than 13,000 organizations. Add to that high volume the 18 percent increase during November and December, when families gather after long absences.


“A lot of the calls are financially driven and stress driven,” says Richard Chaifetz, chief executive officer for ComPsych. “People will call and say, ‘I think my father needs to go to a nursing home. Can you help us figure out our options and how to broach it with him?’


“It can be extremely daunting and overwhelming for people to have to take over decision-making for their parents,” says Chaifetz. “Most people don’t know where to begin. Our experts can help them sort out options and offer support.”