Hi, I'm Susan~
Professionally: High School Counselor (retired)
Scarsdale HS, NY.
* * *
Masters degree: Teachers College, Columbia U., NY
* * *
Author: Helping Children of Divorce (Schocken Books)
My unpublished manuscript, focusing on helping adult children facing their parents' aging challenges, was the beginning. It had just been accepted by a top literary agent in NY. Then came the 2008 economic collapse, hitting publishing companies hard. So she suggested I write a blog using my manuscript's ideas and insights + timely information. Help! Aging Parents was the result.
A decade later Inching Towards 80 is a natural continuation as I realize that my readers and I--every day--are inching towards 80. Actually we do this from the day we are born, don't we?
And I realize the Sr. Advisors to my Aging Parents blog contributed so much insight, expertise, and wisdom about aging smart that it make sense to apply it for our own benefit as we continue life's journey.
Inching Towards 80 honors them–and motivates me–to share their wisdom, combine it with reputable research, creative ideas, and my counseling background so we can all age smarter.
ClLICK About Me and About My Blog for more.
CONTACT SUSAN at: helpagingparents@gmail.com
Help! Aging Parents 
I haven’t been to your site for a while, but plan to revisit it more regularly. This is an excellent subject and a great post. My husband and I (ages 87 and 80) live outside Seattle, WA, and certainly hope that we’ll be able to see our 3 also-senior cats through their remaining lifespan. However,last year I signed them up for the “Pet Guardian Program” through the local Humane Society. It’s not free (there’s an initial donation) but it covers up to 5 current and future pets and assures that they will be placed in an adoptive or foster home for the remainder of their lives (unless they have a medical condition requiring daily veterinary care and need to remain in their clinic).
I volunteer for a cat rescue/rehoming nonprofit and hope that someone in that organization or a related group would be able to take our cats if we can no longer care for them. (There’s no one in our immediate family who would be able to care for 3 older kitties.) However, it’s reassuring to have a backup plan that I can depend on. It sounds like “Pet Peace of Mind” is a similar program but without an up-front donation. I’m so glad people are thinking about this and, I hope, making plans in advance.
Welcome back, Elizabeth. Pet Peace of Mind began in Oregon and Dianne McGill (president and, I believe, founder) is there…not that far from you. She has accomplished remarkable things–especially, I think, in arranging to hook the program up with hospice in many instances. If helpful, do contact her and feel free to use my name. Your kitties are vey fortunate. At times I think we do better for our pets than for many of the elderly.