Facing the Finish

A guide for aging parents and adult children to navigating later life’s transitions

“Nobody gets out of life without dying. If we could beat the house on this bet, we would, but the house always wins, so we have a choice. We can close our eyes to the advancing changes coming our way and just react when the inevitable happens, or we can plan … to be as ready as we can be for what is headed our way.”

Written both to older adults facing the end of their years and the adult children who will care for them, Facing the Finish is loaded with tips and tricks for creating a dialogue between the two generations and handling the many decisions and details that can become overwhelming. While this is not planning that most people enjoy, leaving without a plan is much worse. That’s why family caregiving is often called “the other midlife crisis.”

Author Sheri Samotin is here to help. She covers everything from emotional considerations – accepting that the end is near or managing family dynamics – to practical matters about which documents to find or create and how to store them for when they’re needed.

She urges readers to consider financial resources early – whether to set aside savings, purchase long-term care insurance, or plan for accessing public benefits. She also lays out different options for housing, helps readers weed through the fine print of Medicare, and offers strategies for both caregiving and caregetting. Real-life cases help illustrate each point. And if this all seems too overwhelming, Samotin helps you consider when it’s best to hire professional help.

Finally, Samotin provides you with a detailed approach to develop your Life Transition Plan. You don’t have to be alone in making end-of-life decisions. Samotin’s road map will serve as your navigator each step of the way.

Sheri Samotin is the founder of LifeBridge Solutions, LLC. She has worked with hundreds of families, helping Older Adults and their Adult Children deal with the challenges of aging. Sheri is a life transition coach and certified Professional Daily Money Manager. She earned a degree in economics from Wesleyan University and went on to gain a master of business administration (MBA) from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Sheri is a prolific writer and sought-after speaker on topics related to navigating life’s transitions.