The Softer Side of Bankers

Last week I gave a talk to the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver. What people in professions such as banking, acounting, finanicial planning, etc., are finding is that they are running into clients who need more--especially in the area of eldercare.

Planning for older age may entail seniors housing, nursing homes, home care, and rehabilitation. These are not concerns that lawyers tend to learn in law school or accountants in accountant school, or financial planners in financial planning school (From what I gather, anyway.)

When financial issues are focussed on for older people, the resources issues are ones should be addressed. When they are, they are accompanied by emotional issues--grief,and loss, fear of change, family dynamics. They are the softer side. Anyone talking about resources and change can ignore the emotional, but that means sweeping it under the rug--it doesn't mean that they don't exist.

Where are we heading with this. I think it means that we are all going to have to develop new models of professional practice. These will be interprofessional, collaborative models, where a team approach is needed to really meet the needs in the best way possible.