70 to 100 in a Blink — Lifestyle Planning, Support and Advocacy for Seniors & Their Families provides useful information and insights for planning later lifestyles and protecting quality of life. It is told from the eyes of seniors and families living the experience, and a professional sharing valuable information on topics about aging often avoided. Who will watch out for you? Where will you live? What can you afford? Are you being respected or abused?

People will learn how to plan for their future and use the resources around them so they can remain in control of their well being even when they cannot speak up. Families will learn what’s involved in hands-on caregiving for an aging parent, tips to reduce family caregiver burnout, how to communicate with parents and how to provide support in an unobtrusive manner.

We are now living to age 100 and beyond. We could easily live 30 years needing the support of others but still being fully aware and engaged in life. Having fun, being safe and being spontaneous are still an option—once your life plan is in order. It’s time to shift the way we think about later life. Let’s focus on living our best quality of life being our true selves right to the very end.

BARBARA J. KIRBY is a certified professional consultant on aging. Her understanding of seniors’ complex issues began when she became an unexpected primary caregiver to her parents spanning 15 years, while continuing to work as an investment advisor. This journey led to a deep involvement in family councils, care homes, senior centre boards, and a 6-year contract with a provincial organization focusing on raising awareness of abuse, neglect and self-neglect with inner-city organizations supporting vulnerable adults. Her education includes certifications for dementia care, seniors’ housing, values-based leadership through Royal Roads University and residential care home advocacy. With 25 years’ experience in the aging sector, she is a speaker, trainer, coach, and radio host with multiple published articles. After her parents passed, she saw a need for change and in 2009 created SeniorsAdvocate•CA and authored My Later Life Planning Guide and Personal Resource Book.