My parents are getting older, but they've done a lot to prepare. Being honest and upfront has been the most helpful.

On a recent Tuesday, I received three text messages in a row: two from my daughter and one from my dad. For many of us, this is our everyday — sandwiched between our parents and our kids, and suddenly balancing both.

Both sets of our parents have set up and periodically update wills and trusts; they have their important documents in order. Having lawyer contacts and power of attorney has helped my husband and me, and our siblings know whom to contact in an emergency and which specific procedures to follow. While we can't predict the future or prevent emergencies, we can plan and prepare, so we're not operating in crisis mode — even if it is one.

As the oldest child, my 80-year-old dad made me the executor of his will about 10 years ago. We went to the bank, signed the papers, and then went to lunch. While it was weirdly emotional, I'm glad it's taken care of. In a way, it felt like he was still taking care of us, so that we can take good care of him.

Knowing ahead of time, especially as we adult children enter into our 40s and later, what medical conditions or health predispositions run in the family has also been helpful. Having a list of family members, too, who have struggled with or died from certain illnesses, chronic conditions, and other medical challenges has allowed us to keep up our own care, as we care for our own children. For example, I've been getting regular mammograms at an early age since breast cancer runs in our family, which gives me peace of mind.

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Carving out time to talk in advance, while difficult, has helped us to ease us all through this tender time. Whether it's in person, by phone, or via FaceTime, we have made a concerted effort to set aside time to process vulnerable topics together.

We've also made time to have frank discussions with our teen and tween kids about their grandparents and this time of life. We've shared openly about how we've planned for them and their future.