Interview with Carolyn Brent

Today I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 6 of the Virtual Blog Tour of author Carolyn A. Brent whose book Why Wait? The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Preparing Emotionally, Financially and Legally for a Parent’s Death launches on Amazon on Tuesday November 15, 2011.

Author Carolyn A. Brent, M.B.A. is a former clinical educational manager in the pharmaceutical industry. She is an avid activist and advocate working with the U.S. Congress for the purpose of creating change to protect seniors and veterans from financial and medical abuse. She has appeared on many local and national TV and radio shows, and is a sought-after keynote speaker.

Yesterday, Carolyn visited Kathleen H. Wheeler at http://broughttomysenses.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/carolyn-brent-aging-parents-caregiving-issues-family-relationships , where they talked about some questions on understanding various different family relationships and what to do/expect.

Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with Carolyn when I got to ask her personal story and on communicating on a couple of touchy subjects. I hope you enjoy it.

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Dr. Caron Goode: What is your personal story?

Carolyn A. Brent: I became an accidental expert on this topic due to unforeseen circumstances. For years I tried unsuccessfully to have a conversation with my own siblings about the medical and financial needs of our aging father, then in his seventies, who was suffering from dementia and other medical complications. Because of my Dad’s failing health I felt I should initiate this conversation since I had an especially close relationship with him. My siblings just flat out refused to have the crucial conversation with me, each other, and our father. My siblings were simply too busy with their own lives, and so we put it off. In our case, this led to an extremely bad outcome.

As a direct result, I have turned my pain into passion in the need to helping caregivers and their families talk about and prepare for end-of-life. I believe if we are prepared it can avoid conflict that will come up when a parent is sick or dying. I am now spreading the important message that planning is critical, and families must begin talking to one another as early as possible. For the past few years I’ve traveled across the country giving lectures at churches and to members of organizations with an interest in these issues, and I’ve spoken with numerous family caregivers. I set up CaregiverStory.com to disseminate resources to help family caregivers. I’ve gone on radio and television. I’ve worked to pass new laws in Congress. Now I’ve written Why Wait?

Dr. Caron Goode: What are the most charged emotional conversations in families?

Carolyn A. Brent: Money (GREED) has become the most charged emotional conversation in families. When a parent is healthy is the time to select a responsible person even outside the family regarding finances, and who will be the fiduciary. If the money part of caregiving is resolved early while your parents are healthy the chances are greater that the health care areas are resolved as well. They both go hand in hand.

Dr. Caron Goode: Is there a best or effective conversation technique to open and facilitate the topic?

Carolyn A. Brent: Relationships can be complicated. It is best to engage in effective conversations and effective communication before you wait until there is a problem. It is best to start having the conversation early, and informal in a relaxed environment.

Through research, I found a great book by (McGraw-Hill, 1999), Phil Harkins defines a powerful conversation as one that advances an agenda, where participants share learning and strengthen their relationship. He believes the most important aspect underlying strong relationships is trust, which can be fostered during and after significant conversations by what he terms the “four Cs”: caring, commitment, clarity, and consistency. Because of this book, I am more mindful in how I share my thoughts and communicate with others.

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I hope you enjoyed this interview with Carolyn A. Brent and that you’ll check out her book Why Wait? The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Preparing Emotionally, Financially and Legally for a Parent’s Death at http://www.babyboomersguide.org/book-launch/pre-launch.html

Here Are Two Reasons Why:

FREE 3-DAY PASS

When you visit the page at the link above and request a “launch reminder”, you will automatically receive a FREE pass to Carolyn’s 3-day “Why Wait? Telesummit”, with a panel leading experts preparing emotionally, financially and legally for the death of a parent. You can listen to the telesummit online in the comfort of your own home, and even ask questions during the broadcast.

This telesummit is a completely free
“no purchase necessary” gift from Carolyn

To register, go to

http://www.babyboomersguide.org/book-launch/telesummit.html

FREE GIFTS

When you buy Carolyn’s book on Tuesday November 15, 2011, you can ALSO receive a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from around the globe including one from me:

Three podcasts on The Freedom & Power of Intuitive Living,

Chapter one of Raising Intuitive Children

and The Art & Science of Coaching Parents eBooks

To claim your 3-Day Pass and read about the free gifts, go to: http://www.babyboomersguide.org/book-launch/pre-launch.html

Thanks for reading! As usual, please feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

AND… be sure to follow Carolyn tomorrow when the next stop on the Virtual Blog Tour is Paula Tarrant, who will be interviewing Carolyn on the subject of supporting parents when caregiving and self-care. To visit that “stop” on the tour, go to http://inspiredwomenwork.com/how-to-be-a-better-caregiver-for-a-parent/