Vera is your candid companion as you care for ageing parents. Straight talk, clear priorities, no BS. You've got them. We've got you.
You're not imagining it: Small changes matter more than you think | Vera Guide
You're not imagining it: Small changes matter more than you think | Vera Guide
That thing you noticed about your elderly mum or dad over the holidays? The one you're telling yourself is "probably nothing"? It's something. And the fact that you noticed it means you're already doing the most important thing - paying attention.
"I just need to know what's normal" | Vera
"I just need to know what's normal" | Vera
You don't have a plan. Most people don't. Here's where to start. | Vera
You don't have a plan. Most people don't. Here's where to start. | Vera
No care plan for your ageing parent? You're not alone. Here's how to start planning for the conversations and decisions ahead. Without the overwhelm.
The siblings who disappeared all year suddenly have opinions about Mum's care | Vera
The siblings who disappeared all year suddenly have opinions about Mum's care | Vera
When a crisis hits, distant siblings often emerge with strong opinions but little context. How to manage family conflict when decisions need to happen fast.
Surviving the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind | Vera
Surviving the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind | Vera
Free practical guide for family caregivers navigating the holidays with aging parents. Includes scripts for difficult conversations, boundary-setting templates, and survival strategies.
Sandwich generation: caring for two generations upended this Sydney mother’s career plans
Sandwich generation: caring for two generations upended this Sydney mother’s career plans
What started as a six-month break for this executive morphed into a multigenerational caregiving squeeze that upended her life.
Forget hot flushes: the real midlife crisis is the cost of caring
Forget hot flushes: the real midlife crisis is the cost of caring
While Australia obsesses over menopause, midlife women are caught in a collision of crises - and Big Wellness is cashing in on the crash.
"Honestly, I don't know where to start" | Vera
"Honestly, I don't know where to start" | Vera
My parents are fine... for now" | Vera
My parents are fine... for now" | Vera
The three conversations to have before everything changes | Vera
The three conversations to have before everything changes | Vera
Most families wait until a crisis to talk about care - 2am in a hospital corridor, trying to guess what "I never want to be a burden" actually means. But 86% of Australians don't have plans for this stage of life, not because they don't care, but because these conversations feel impossible to start. This guide breaks down the three essential conversations to have with your parent before everything changes: what matters most to them if they need care, what medical decisions they'd want if they can't speak for themselves (including who should speak for them), and how your family will actually make it work without destroying each other. You'll get specific questions to ask, scripts for starting each conversation, strategies for handling resistance, and guidance on documenting what you learn. These conversations are hard - but having them now means making decisions later that actually align with what your parent wants, not just what seems practical in a crisis.
The dementia paradox: Why the hardest conversations need to happen early | Vera
The dementia paradox: Why the hardest conversations need to happen early | Vera
Here's the paradox that makes dementia uniquely difficult. Dementia patients often want to focus on living in the present. To avoid thinking about decline. To take things one day at a time. And families, wanting to respect that dignity, often wait. But dementia doesn't wait. The window for capturing your parent's authentic wishes about care, medical interventions, living arrangements, what constitutes acceptable quality of life - narrows steadily. By the time a crisis hits (fall, hospitalisation, safety incident), they may no longer be able to tell you what they want. This leaves families making life-altering choices for someone who can no longer express their wishes, guessing between what the person said before diagnosis versus what seems right now. This article addresses why these conversations feel impossible, why they matter anyway, and how to actually have them in a way that preserves dignity while protecting everyone's future.
The conversations that need to happen at your kitchen table (not a hospital corridor) | Vera
The conversations that need to happen at your kitchen table (not a hospital corridor) | Vera
The last stage of life deserves the same thoughtful planning we give to careers, raising children, and retirement. But only 14% of Australians have a plan in place for end-of-life care which means most families are making these profound decisions in hospital corridors under stress. This article guides you through the conversations that need to happen now - at your kitchen table, while everyone's calm - about future care preferences, what matters most, and who speaks on your behalf if you can't speak for yourself.
There's a way forward (let us show you) | Vera
There's a way forward (let us show you) | Vera
You've noticed changes in your parent but don't know what they mean or what to do. There's a way forward - we'll help you understand what you're seeing and show you exactly where to start.
Vera - Navigate care with clarity, not chaos | Vera
Vera - Navigate care with clarity, not chaos | Vera
Navigate care with clarity, not chaos.
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