[onewhippedpuppy]

Tough one guys, good luck to those that are facing it. My parents are mid-60s and still sharp, but I just watched some of the process with my grandmother. My grandfather passed about 1 1/2 years ago, died in his sleep of a heart attack at 82. Great way to go, still sharp, physically fit and working, he went to sleep and didn't wake up. My grandmother had been in a slow decline for at least 10 years, she has fought debilitating back pain, the associated pain meds, and just old age. Without my grandfather to take care of things my parents bought a new house with room for her and moved her in. They had the difficult conversation that she was no longer fit for driving (probably hasn't been for years), which means my retired father is now her chauffeur. They established a trust with her inheritance and have full power of attorney, essential in her case because she has no comprehension of money management. In many ways they have become like parents to her - they drive her places, give her an allowance, monitor her medications, etc. Currently they're fighting the medication battle again, she largely hasn't eaten in several weeks because the drugs eliminate her appetite, but she claims the pain is too bad to handle without the drugs.

It's a VERY difficult situation. I love my grandmother, and was probably the closest of the grandkids to both her and my grandfather growing up. I credit both of them for providing me with some great life lessons and helping me to be where I am today. But in many ways I'd be happy to see my grandmother pass. It's difficult to see living be so painful, and the life that she is left with is hardly worth living. The cliche of "she's gone to a better place" would be 100% applicable to the situation.

A few tips that I would provide from watching:

Get an ironclad professional will written NOW while they are still of sound mind. My grandfather did not have one, and his estate still hasn't fully exited the court system.
Get power of attorney. My grandmother would probably be broke had my parents not done this.
Set up a trust. You need to insure that they will be taken care of until they are gone.