ABOUT THE AUTHORS:  Sharon Hanks Sharon Hanks retired as an emeritus full professor of the Biology Department of William Paterson University of New Jersey in 2004 after teaching for 29 years. After retirement, she began a second profession and is currently an instructor of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, teaching at various venues in the community and at a martial arts school in Nyack, New York. Helping others, through teaching, has always has been one of Sharon’s life goals. While assisting her sister, via long-distance communications, in the planning and caring for their elderly mother, the need for a specific resource book was brought into focus. This book is the result of their joint efforts. She hopes that this book will help others as it has helped her and her family. Sharon lives in Montvale, New Jersey with husband and five adopted stray cats. Jennifer Snyder Never knowing where life was going to lead her, Jennifer has taken many different paths. While raising her daughter, she owned a small candy business. Later, she shifted from candy to banking, where she was a vault teller for 9 years. Her last working path was in Southern California where she served as a school coordinator for a nonprofit company that exposed children to sea and astrocamp experiences. However, the most gratifying, yet heart-breaking event, in the winding road of her life, was the path that involving caring for her aging mother. With so many details to consider and so many emotions to balance in her care-giving, she found that having a “plan of attack” helped smooth the way for this rewarding but stressful and final journey. The guidance, love, and support of family and friends were essential in helping her making the plan work. Jennifer hopes that this book will provide a helping hand for others to deal with their own life journeys. However, this book is not just for dealing with the elderly, but to smooth the way for any life crisis that readers may encounter

.