Free seminar on family conversations Sept. 4
A group of leading Arlington Heights business professionals are a free Critical Conversations for Aging Parents seminar at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4 in conjunction with Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights. The seminar is free to area residents, along with Lutheran Home residents and families. Members of the group provide guidance on issues families face in caring for aging parents. The seminar will take place in the Welcome Center at Lutheran Home, 800 West Oakton St., Arlington Heights.
The seminar is free, but registration is required. Interested individuals may sign up at bit.ly/3UzYF4U.
The Critical Conversations panel consists of Deb Torres, founder of Institute for the Cycles of Life; David Hogaboom, financial adviser, Total Clarity Wealth Management; Mildred Palmer, founder and partner, Navigant Law Group; David Schwabe, The Schwabe Group Compass Real Estate; and Celina McIntyre, NP, Nurse Home Solutions. Joining the group for this presentation will be Lutheran Home Business Development Liaison Megan Schofield, MHA, CSA, DCS.
“Critical Conversations focuses on the importance of preparing for and engaging in difficult conversations related to planning for the future of your loved ones,” Torres said. “We address topics such as end-of-life decisions, financial planning, estate planning, real estate decisions, and managing home care.”
The group members all operate businesses in Arlington Heights and are active in various charitable groups and organizations throughout the community.
“There are so many challenges and obstacles families face, including simply the emotional weight of approaching topics like this,” Hogaboom said. “We formed Critical Conversations as a means of providing guidance to neighbors and community members.”
“Planning for late in life decisions is not easy for most families,” Palmer said. “We try to remove the fear and hesitancy around the discussions and educate attendees on how to approach these topics within the family setting.”
The Critical Conversations seminar features brief presentations by each of the panelists but is designed to primarily focus on dialogue and Q&A with the audience.
“It is very likely that many of us will one day have to make decisions about our parents, including moving them from their home of many years to some form of assisted living community,” Schwabe said. “Depending on the needs of the parent, that type of residence can be expensive. You do not want to be unprepared when the time to move comes.”
“These crucial matters require open and thoughtful communication within families,” McIntyre said. “Our goal is to facilitate those conversations and help guide families as they encounter new and difficult situations.”
Schofield looks forward to welcoming the panel to Lutheran Home. “This will be an excellent opportunity for all local families to hear from people who understand the challenges families face as parents age. Much like Lutheran Home, these professionals are focused on providing caring solutions that can ease the transition into new family dynamics.”
To learn more, visit criticalconvos.net or contact Deb Torres at icolbydeb@gmail.com.