“The
biggest gift you can give me is to help me figure out what to do during that period of time. If we can talk about this while we’re all still
healthy and have a sense of humor about it, then when I am grieving,
I’ll still be able to function and know that I’m doing the right thing.”

So says Linney in response to a question about how her role in The Savages gave her perspective on the issue of caring for aging parents. In this interview by Leigh Singer on Rotten Tomatoes, Laura Linney discusses not only the usual interview fodder such as her fellow co-stars and the craft of acting, but also the more serious subject of considering the future with the people you love.

This movie  may not be an accurate portrayal of what every family’s experience will be with the aging process (or at least let’s hope not!), but it certainly makes you think about it and broach the subject with your loved ones, which is no small feat when the topic can be such a frightening and uncomfortable one.

With so many Baby Boomers suddenly facing the possibility of caring for aging parents, it’s nice that there are some thoughtful media representations out there to express different sides of the situation and bring the issue to the forefront. Having that first discussion can be the hardest part of the process, and movies like The Savages make it easier by giving us a context in which to bring it up.

Whether you think you’ll be the one acting as caretaker or not, and regardless of whether or not your parents have already addressed the issue with long-term care insurance, it’s important to sit down have the discussion together. “It will be a huge turning point in my life,” says Laura Linney, “as it will be for everybody, but I will always remember all of us laughing about it, which is a great thing.”

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