The American Association of Retired People (AARP) offers webinars (Internet-based seminars) on the topic of families caring for elderly family members. At the end of each webinar, there is a "knowledge test" (don't worry, no one is grading you!) to make sure you grasp key points.

None of these webinars gloss over the difficulty of managing, planning, and  providing care to elderly parents is. In fact, that hard-nosed approach is what makes these info-packed articles worth reading.

The topics include:

Housing Choices: Key here is their explanation of assisted living facility contracts. AARP breaks down typical contract language and explains what tricky  phrasing lin the brouchure (like "laundry services provided") actually mean in the contract, and questions to ask ("does laundry include bed linens? personal laundry?")

Managing Caregiving Details: There is a great segment on public programs that are worth investigating,  but the discussion on how to communicate with health professionals may prove invaluable.

Planning for the Care of Aging Parents: One of the most under-addressed topics in aging, here AARP explains how to best plan for the care of aging parents. There is a wonderful glossary of terms worth boning up on (living will, health care proxy, etc.) as well as a helpful list of essential account numbers to have at the ready in case of an emergency.

Providing the Care: While there are some useful tips for giving care in your home or your parents home, there is a crucial segment on providing long-distance care, an often overlooked arm of caregiving.