I started ParentCare because it’s really hard seeing your parents get older. I didn’t see it all at once, since I only see them a few times a year, but I knew in the back of my head that they were getting older. I have my own children and life that make things really busy and easy to forget about what I “could” or “should” be doing for them.

On top of that, friend after friend was having an issue with one of their parents. Literally they’d get “the call,” and then have to tune in and start figuring out how to be helpful. All of my friends, who are incredibly caring people, would just wait for something to happen and then decide to get involved and help. There had to be a better way….

So I started developing what would become ParentCare. A combination of an online account, personal service, and a few “hacks” like a monthly newsletter with simple ways to help and being able to send your parents a fill-in-the-blank book they could fill in (when they’re ready) to share their preferences as they get older (awkward conversation avoided!).

We’ve built into ParentCare so many ways to open the lines of communication in easy and (actually) fun ways. From helping them with technology, to everyday living conveniences, to getting siblings involved, to eventual health issues, to how to handle the inevitable situations as they get older, it’s all included. And there’s so much fun stuff as well, capturing your parent’s life story, best family memories and fresh ideas every month for staying in-sync and in-touch.

I know it’s already helped me with my parents and it’s incredibly gratifying - you would have thought helping them set up a password app was the equivalent of curing world hunger. I simply shared the directions over the phone, walked them both through it, and it literally made their month. And it opened my eyes to other simple ways to help even though I don’t live nearby, that make such a difference in their lives (and make me actually feel like a good son still).

Sign up for ParentCare today and join the growing numbers from our generation being proactively helpful as our parents get older...you’ll look back someday and be so glad you did. They were there for us growing up, now it’s our turn to be there for them.

Wishing you and your parents all the best…
Jonathan Aspatore