Just in time for LTC Awareness month, new research from Age Wave and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management shows that baby boomers are incredibly generous with their time and money in caring for aging parents and family members. In fact, 62 percent of people age 50 and older have provided financial assistance to family members during the last five years.

However, the vast majority have never budgeted or prepared for providing such support.  A big reason - having the conversation is so hard!  Much of the focus on helping people plan for care has been around how to "have the discussion" - the earlier the better.  The most difficult conversation of all is around "hands on caregiving," as the following response shows.