If Taylor Swift can reinvent herself every few years, so can your parents. Granted, their next era likely won’t involve stadium tours or sequined bodysuits, the setlist still matters. Before the curtain rises on whatever’s next, it’s worth asking: what do they want the show to look like?

And while Mom and Dad might not be dropping surprise albums, their next chapter will have its own headliners: how they define dignity, what independence means to them, and the non-negotiables that make the encore worth staying for. These aren’t one-night-only talks, you’ll likely revisit them over coffee, during walks, and in those moments when life slows down just enough to listen. Start now, and you’ll help make the whole tour one worth remembering.

We teamed up with one of our favorite collaborators, a PhD-level researcher, clinician, and Colorado-based family therapist, to create a game plan for keeping the tour on track. Highlights below.

🎞️ Wake Up Maggie is a coming-of-middle-age feature in development that doubles as a love letter to caregivers—shedding light on frontotemporal dementia through a story inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience with her mother. Learn more, follow the film’s progress, or support the mission here.

🎤 After her dad’s unexpected heart surgery, Taylor Swift found herself caregiving. She moved in, built his shower chair, and found herself trading tour dates for hospital shifts and harness-assisted hallway walks.

🧪 Researchers at ShanghaiTech University used lab-grown brain organoids to uncover a potential new Alzheimer’s treatment. A peptide called thymosin β4 (Tβ4) reversed early brain damage in both organoids and mouse models.

💔 This past week, Jackie Bezos—mom to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—passed away after living with Lewy body dementia, the second most common form of dementia and one that affects one's thinking, movement, behavior, and sleep.

Like most Swifties, we can read between the notes. Songs like Eldest Daughter, Father Figure, and Wi$h Li$t? Clearly about caregiving. And given her dad’s recent major heart surgery, it all tracks. Whether she’s writing about family dynamics or hidden fears, Taylor has a way of making personal stories feel universal, which is exactly what caregiving is: personal, but shared.

Why this matters now
We’re heading toward a milestone: within a few years, adults 65 and over will outnumber kids under 18 in the U.S. That means more of us will be helping parents make decisions about their health, finances, living arrangements, and care preferences. Without these conversations, you’re left to guess—often in the middle of a crisis—about what they want.

Start with dignity and independence
These words sound noble, but they mean different things to different people. For one parent, dignity might mean staying at home as long as possible; for another, it could mean never having to rely on a child for bathing or meals. Independence might be about mobility, decision-making, or even the ability to keep a daily routine. Knowing their definition (and sharing yours) prevents painful misunderstandings later.

Make the conversation work for everyone

In lieu of friendship bracelets, we put together the Next Era Conversation Guide (free download below). Think of it as your ticket to help open the door to the conversations about how your parents want to age, live, and be cared for in the years ahead. Reentry is always allowed.

Helpful care-focused finds we’ve identified and researched so you don’t have to. 

Not your grandma’s scrapbook. Capsle turns memories into multimedia time capsules. Aging parents can record stories, advice, or even a well-timed roast, all stored in a private digital vault for future generations. It’s legacy you can actually hear, not just inherit. Available for iOS and Android, it’s free to get started, and then around $50 per year if you stick with it.