Have you ever heard coyotes howling when you were alone, outside, and under no more light than the moon and stars could give?  What feelings did you experience?

 Many of my family, friends, and clients have experience the same feelings you may have felt – not because these folks heard coyotes – but because they realized that their parent, grandparent, or other elderly loved one was losing the ability to take care of himself or herself.  This realization is like hearing a coyote howling.  The howl is a warning.

 You may have heard the coyote howl when you attended a doctor’s appointment with you mom or dad, and the doctor announced a difficult and challenging prognosis like Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, or Cancer.  Or you may have heard the coyote howl when grandma or grandpa received the third late notice for rent or mortgage.

 The best think we can do when we hear the coyote howl is to be prepared.  I always carry a flashlight, a survival knife, and a pistol when I’m hunting hogs at night.  A coyote may sneak up on me even if I’m smart, even if I’m hunting with a good group, and even when I’m prepared.

 You can be prepared for the coyote by having good financial and medical power of attorneys in place, and you can be prepared by talking to your loved ones about paying for in home care, assisted living, and nursing home care.