Taking Care of Mom and Dad: Scams, Probate and Other Bad Things Conclusion

An unfortunate -- and inevitable -- part of aging is that strengths that served your parents well for most of their lives begin to diminish. Poor judgment about investments and money management can lead them to lose their hard-earned resources. Fear and confusion about death can make them ignore the important aspects of planning for after they are gone.

Perhaps the best support you can give your parents is advice that helps them avoid these perils. Just as they looked after you when you were a child (even if they did so imperfectly), you now return the obligation by looking after them.

In this chapter, we've taken a brief look at the two biggest dangers that lurk wherever older people gather: scams and probate. (And many family members swear that probate is a scam.) You need to be a lawyer or a fraud investigator to look out for your parents with regard to these risks.

You just need to be reasonably well-informed and pay attention to what...and how...your parents are doing.