Consider home care services: Seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as long as possible may be open to having care-giving professionals come by on a regular basis. In-home services can include such non-medical ones as light housekeeping, meal planning and preparation and assistance with daily routines like dressing and bathing. For seniors requiring more advanced care, medical professionals can also make home visits.

Fraud alert: As unseemly as it might be, there are lots of scammers around who target senior citizens. Whether they appear online, over the phone, or show up at the door, make sure your loved ones know to protect themselves against fraudulent schemes:

• Remind them never to give out personal information of any kind to someone who calls them on the phone or contacts them via email.

• Only give out information to places you have contacted, and with which you already do business.

• Outdoor work and other home repairs are a major area where seniors are targeted. Let them know not to pay any fees up front, particularly to people who just show up offering help with a certain job, like mowing the lawn or tree trimming. A reputable business gives free estimates for their work and will often do the work and bill you later.

• If your parent is now living alone, try to be with them when possible whenever someone is coming into the home for a service call.

Planning for the future: this may be a hard conversation, but talk over your parents’ wishes regarding end-of-life preferences and pre-arranging for burial. While this is tough to bring up, it’s better to do so while your loved ones are still relatively healthy and able to specify what they want. It can save the family from having to make these important decisions under stress.

Safety measures: Most accidents happen at home. If your senior parents are planning to stay in their own place, consider a few precautions that could give you (and them) some peace of mind:

• Make sure walkways—inside and out—are well-lit and free of clutter, loose gravel, cracks that could trip them up and loose carpeting/throw rugs.

• Install handrails in the shower/ bathtub area to give them a firm place to brace themselves while getting in and out.

• Personal alarms are a great way to maintain independence while feeling secure knowing that if an emergency comes, help is on the way with just one touch of a button. These types of security measures generally have a monthly fee and provide clients with a button they can wear around the neck or keep close by.

Staying at home vs. other housing options: Your parents likely worked their entire lives to build the home they have, so they may be reluctant to leave it. Depending on the situation, downsizing to a more manageable residence may be an option, or consider an independent living facility that allows your parents to retain their independence, while having the security of knowing help is close by should an emergency arise.

To drive or not to drive: This is one area where many families face tension. Let’s face it: driving at any age means independence. That’s not something that is easily surrendered by most of us. Unless obvious health or age-related issues make driving dangerous, it’s always best that they be the ones to make the decision not to drive. However, there may be a time when you have to step in and gently suggest they consider other options.