What Happens When Three Generations Talk About Long-Term Care? A Lesson in Planning That Sticks.
A few days ago, I sat down with a family for what was supposed to be a routine estate planning meeting. But as three generations gathered around the table—a grandfather in his 70s, his adult son, and his college-aged granddaughter—it quickly became something more meaningful.
The granddaughter sat quietly at first, jotting notes in a spiral-bound notebook while sipping a green smoothie. I figured she was just observing. But halfway through the meeting, as we walked through the grandfather’s wishes for long-term care, financial planning, and asset protection, she raised her hand.
“Does this cover things like his email accounts or photos stored in the cloud? What happens to all that?”
Her grandfather blinked. Her father turned to look at me. And in that moment, I saw something shift.
They were asking the same questions people usually ask: about costs, real estate, timing, and what happens when care is needed. But the youngest voice in the room brought something new—she was connecting dots that hadn’t been part of the conversation yet. Not because the others didn’t care, but because they’d never had the chance—or the language—to talk about these things before.
That’s what I love about multigenerational meetings.
They aren’t just about legal documents. They’re about the stories behind them. The grandfather shared memories of settling his own parents’ affairs—how messy and emotional it was without a plan. His son wanted to avoid that burden for his own children. And the granddaughter? She was taking it all in, asking smart questions, and thinking ahead. She closed her notebook at the end of the meeting and said, “I just want to know how to do this right the first time.”
That stuck with me.
Because that’s what this work is really about. It’s not just elder law. It’s family dynamics across time. It’s lived experience meeting future perspective. It’s listening closely enough to create a plan that doesn’t just transfer assets—but values, awareness, and connection.
The wisdom flows in every direction—if we create the space for it.
If your family is ready to have that kind of conversation, I’m here to help create the space where it can happen. Contact me at 402-259-0059 or zach@zandersonlaw.com.