Moving Your Aging Parents: Fulfilling Their Needs and Yours Before, During, and After the Move

by Nancy Wesson, Jacqueline Marcell (Foreword)

Whether whittling down to the essentials for a parent moving into a room or two or downsizing for ourselves, ignoring the spirit and basing decisions on health and safety alone could have devastating results. In this hope filled book you will learn how

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Although I was born in the Panama Canal Zone, I grew up in Baton Rouge, immersed in the rich cultural gumbo of South Louisiana, where spirituality, religion and witchcraft mingled—where life was cadenced by hurricane season and fueled by strong, dark-roast coffee. In that world the paranormal was normal and nothing was quite as it seemed. In searching for understanding of the constant parade of curious events, a seed was planted – one that would grow into a tendency to question authority, reality, and the status quo. I’ve always studied and lived life from a different point-of-view. My education was bracketed on one end by a Master’s Degree in Audiology from University of Texas and deep immersion in eastern studies and spiritual technology on the other.
I write from what I know - what I've lived, or at least start there and let it evolve. Moving Your Aging Parents started as background chatter on the long road trips to move my own mom, after having done it for so many clients. My latest book started with my Peace Corps experience, but grew into something much deeper as I wrote, tapping into deep recesses of childhood memories, unearthing all manner of mischief.
I’ve traveled far-and-wide; cruised on a small sailboat; raised kids, businesses, and husbands; and had more than a few good adventures, but nothing compared to that of walking away from it all at the age of 64. Exploring the alien world of post-conflict Uganda, the wilderness of my own psyche, and the new self that emerged has been—by far—the greatest of these adventures.

Reviews

[Nancy Wesson]

I admit to this being my book, and frankly am not sure how it ended up on my read list, because I wrote it :) Some error on my part, I'm sure. All that said, I wrote the book a few years ago while I was moving my aging parent and it's proved a valuable resource to many. When I found myself downsizing to cram life into an 8-X 10 storage to sell the house and join Peace Corps, I began to flirt with the idea that I may be the "aging parent." So I treated myself as the parent/client and evaluated - again - the pointers in the book, and yes, they were all still helpful and valid. Since then, I've written another book, I Miss the Rain in Africa: Peace Corps as a Third Act. It's what happens when the aging parent goes rogue to live and volunteer for two-plus years in war-ravaged Northern Uganda. When I returned, I - again - applied what I'd written about downsizing and moving into much smaller quarters: 350 square feet, then back up to 900 sq. feet. It is still relevant, but sobering to find yourself to be subject of the book! I hope you enjoy both reads, as they both explore how to navigate life and grow older with a sense of independence, autonomy and adventure.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful overview with detailed helpful information

This is a kind and considerate look at every aspect of moving later in life and a mountain of information to think through to make the process successful. What to do, how to take care of everything, while taking caring of emotions - for caretakers, too. This is a resource to consult time and again.