Palmetto Publishing, based in Charleston, South Carolina, in the United States, has released Caring for Mom (and/or Dad), a nonfiction guide by Michael S. Fox and Susan L. Fox on the planning decisions adult children face as their parents age.
The book is the authors’ debut and draws on their own years of caregiving. It is available now through online retailers.
Three families, one set of decisions#
The book is built on firsthand accounts from three families navigating elder care. Each family reaches the same crossroads from a different starting point and handles it differently.
The authors use these accounts to contrast what happens when legal and financial planning is already in place with what happens when a family is left scrambling after a crisis. The stories include a mother who can no longer balance a checkbook and a father whose fall reveals vulnerabilities no one anticipated. Siblings disagree about money, living arrangements and who makes decisions.
Why timing matters#
The authors argue that the window for action is narrow. Key documents, including Power of Attorney and healthcare surrogacy, require a parent who can still make informed decisions.
Michael S. Fox and Susan L. Fox said:
We’ve navigated caring for our parents through trial and error. A lot of time has been spent securing the right documents ‘after the fact.’ We hope that this book will help streamline the process so you can care for your loved one and enjoy the time you have with them, rather than spending that time on paperwork.
What the book covers#
Both authors hold degrees in education, a background the book’s structure reflects. Chapters address:
- Essential legal documents
- Managing finances and insurance
- Care options, from independent living through skilled nursing
- Keeping siblings aligned
- Honoring a parent’s stated wishes
The book is written for readers roughly between 40 and 70 who are beginning to anticipate these questions. It sits alongside Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and How to Care for Aging Parents by Virginia Morris. The authors point to the aging of the baby boom generation as a reason the number of households facing these decisions continues to grow, and they present early planning as the practical response.
- Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
- Publication date: October 27, 2026
- ISBN-13: 9798318850875, 9798318850868, 9798318850882
The book is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
About the authors#
Both authors hold degrees in education. Together, they have served as primary caregivers for their respective mothers for more than twelve years, handling tasks from daily bill-paying to full-scale financial oversight, healthcare coordination and legal planning.
The book grew out of that experience. What began as managing simple tasks for one parent expanded to cover all aspects of daily life for both mothers. The authors encountered gaps in available resources and wrote the guide they wished they had when their caregiving began.
Now retired and living in Florida, the couple are parents of three children and grandparents of three. They say they continue to learn as caregivers, and that new insights inform their ongoing work to raise awareness of eldercare.
