Ben
Ben writes about sharing the work between siblings, caring from far away, and what happens to the house, the car and the mail. Fair splits in hours, not guilt.
Articles by Ben
- Siblings and familySibling conflict over a parent's care: how to get unstuckSibling conflict over parent care tends to have one of five causes. Find yours, use the matching fix and script, and know when to call in a neutral party.Ben · September 18, 2025
- Siblings and familyA family meeting agenda for a parent's moveA 90-minute family meeting agenda for an elderly parent's move to assisted living: who attends, what to prepare, timed topics, roles and the written summary.Ben · August 15, 2026
- Siblings and familyHow to split caregiving costs between siblingsHow siblings can split caregiving costs fairly: keep your parent's money separate, pick one of four split methods, count time, and write a one-page agreement.Ben · September 12, 2026
- Siblings and familyWhat to say to a sibling who doesn't helpScripts for a sibling not helping with a parent's move: how to ask for one specific task, jobs for a far-away sibling, and what to do if the answer is no.Ben · March 11, 2025
- Siblings and familyRunning on empty: caregiver burnout during a parent's moveCaregiver burnout during a parent's move to assisted living: the warning signs, what to cut from the list, where to find respite, and when to get help today.Ben · July 19, 2026
- Siblings and familyMoving a parent into assisted living as an only childAn only child caregiver moving a parent to assisted living: build a team beyond siblings, keep only what must be you, and set up a backup if you get sick.Ben · July 21, 2026
- Siblings and familyWhich sibling should be power of attorney?Which sibling should be power of attorney? It's your parent's choice. What the agent's job involves, how to compare siblings, and co-agents vs. a successor.Ben · August 11, 2025
- Siblings and familyGround rules for the family group chat during a parent's moveFamily communication while caregiving: 10 ground rules for the family group chat during a parent's move, what goes where, an update template and a script.Ben · May 24, 2025
- Siblings and familyDividing a parent's belongings between siblings fairlyDividing a parent's belongings between siblings after a move to assisted living: your parent decides first, then wish lists, a rotating pick order, deadlines.Ben · August 9, 2026
- Siblings and familyHow to track caregiving expenses as a familyHow to track caregiving expenses as a family during a parent's move: the columns your shared log needs, categories, a receipt routine and a monthly summary.Ben · July 4, 2025
- Siblings and familyMoving a parent while working full timeA working caregiver's plan for moving a parent to assisted living: tasks that need business hours, what to ask HR, what to tell your boss, when to take leave.Ben · October 2, 2025
- Siblings and familyFMLA for family caregivers: what it covers during a parent's moveFMLA for a caregiver during a parent's move to assisted living: who qualifies, how 'care' is defined, leave in blocks or hours, certification and notice.Ben · September 21, 2025
- Siblings and familyYour spouse, your parent and the move: setting boundariesCaregiving and marriage during a parent's move to assisted living: agree on time, money, space and your spouse's role before the busy weeks, with scripts.Ben · October 11, 2025
- Siblings and familyHow grandchildren can help with a grandparent's moveHow grandchildren can help a grandparent move to assisted living, by age: jobs for young kids, teens and adult grandkids, what to tell them, what to avoid.Ben · August 12, 2026
- Siblings and familyThe 15-minute weekly family check-inA 15-minute weekly family caregiving meeting for a parent's move: a minute-by-minute agenda, rotating roles, ground rules, and a notes template to send after.Ben · May 16, 2025
- Siblings and familyStepfamilies and a parent's move: who decides?Who decides about assisted living in a stepfamily? Your parent first, then the documents they signed, then state law, which often ranks a spouse first.Ben · August 26, 2025
- Siblings and familyWhen your parent listens to one child and not the othersWhen a parent favors one sibling in caregiving and only listens to them: why it happens, how to use it for the move instead of fighting it, and when to worry.Ben · August 8, 2025
- Long distance and the houseMoving a parent into assisted living from far awayA long-distance caregiver can run most of an assisted living move remotely. What needs you in person, who covers the gaps, and how to plan your trips well.Ben · August 19, 2025
- Long distance and the houseAssisted living near you or near your parent? How to decideShould you move a parent closer to you for assisted living or choose one near home? A decision table, the Medicare and Medicaid checks, and what to ask them.Ben · November 8, 2024
- Long distance and the housePlanning your trips as a long-distance caregiverHow to plan long-distance caregiving trips around an assisted living move: what each trip is for, what to book ahead, a sample itinerary and a debrief list.Ben · February 3, 2025
- Long distance and the houseVirtual assisted living tours: what to ask on videoHow to run a virtual tour of assisted living: book a live video walk, what to have them show you, questions to ask on camera, and what video can't reveal.Ben · July 18, 2025
- Long distance and the houseClearing out a parent's house after the move, step by stepClearing out a parent's house after an assisted living move? Work in this order: secure it, pull papers, family claims, sell, donate, haul, then clean it.Ben · March 7, 2026
- Long distance and the houseEstate sale, donation or junk removal: what goes whereEstate sale vs donation vs junk removal for a parent's house: a table of what goes where, how estate sale companies are paid, donation receipts and hazards.Ben · January 9, 2026
- Long distance and the houseSelling a parent's house while they're in assisted livingSelling a parent's house while they live in assisted living: who can sign, tax and Medicaid questions to ask first, prepping it from afar, closing remotely.Ben · August 25, 2026
- Long distance and the houseRenting out a parent's house: questions to answer firstThinking of renting out a parent's house while they live in assisted living? The authority, money, insurance, tax, Medicaid and landlord questions to settle.Ben · June 1, 2026
- Long distance and the houseWhat to do with a parent's car after the moveWhat to do with an elderly parent's car after an assisted living move: keep, give, sell or donate it, and the DMV, plate and insurance steps to end liability.Ben · June 5, 2025
- Long distance and the houseChange of address checklist for a parent's moveA change of address checklist for a parent moving to assisted living: who to notify, how, and what you need, from USPS and Social Security to banks, doctors.Ben · January 9, 2025
- Long distance and the houseForwarding a parent's mail with USPSHow to forward a parent's mail with USPS after a move to assisted living: who can file, online or in person, the $1.25 fee, and exactly what gets forwarded.Ben · February 1, 2026
- Long distance and the houseCanceling or transferring utilities at a parent's homeCanceling utilities for an elderly parent after an assisted living move: what to keep on in an empty house, what to cancel, shutoff notices and final bills.Ben · May 4, 2025
- Long distance and the houseInsurance for a parent's empty houseVacant home insurance for a parent's empty house: how vacancy clauses work, vacant vs unoccupied, what to ask the insurer, and how to lower the risk now.Ben · December 19, 2024
- Long distance and the houseManaging a parent's bills from far awayHow to manage an elderly parent's finances remotely: the authority you need, a money inventory, bank alerts and autopay, a monthly routine and scam checks.Ben · March 11, 2026
- Long distance and the houseA parent's phone, email and online accounts during the moveAn elderly parent's online accounts during an assisted living move: an account inventory, safe ways to get access, protecting the phone number, and scams.Ben · December 17, 2024
- Long distance and the houseStaying close to a parent in assisted living from far awayHow to stay connected with a parent in assisted living from far away: a weekly rhythm, easy video calls, a loop with the staff, and what to listen for.Ben · April 22, 2025
- Long distance and the houseA parent's house full of stuff: where to startA parent's house full of stuff and a move coming? Where to start: split the move list from the rest, pull the papers first, begin in the easiest room.Ben · April 16, 2026
- Long distance and the houseShould you rent a storage unit for a parent's things?Should you rent a storage unit for a parent's belongings after an assisted living move? When it helps, the cost math, insurance, lien rules and an exit plan.Ben · April 29, 2026