Many seniors make sure they have a durable medical power of attorney to carry out their wishes when they can no longer direct health care providers. But only 39 percent have given any sort of power of attorney to protect their money.

Most of us come into the world viewing our parents as healthy, strong and everlasting. As we grow, and they age, the naive feeling that they are a perpetual part of our lives fades.

No one knows what the future holds. But I believe it’s safe to say we’re in for miraculous advances, in technology, medicine and many other categories.

Our capacity for empathy is great. Reading this story revealed to me just how difficult it is to understand another person’s journey unless and until we have been on that journey ourselves. I would like to know Dr. Elon, as a colleague and as a caregiver. Like her, I embraced the opportunity to create a career caring for our elders.

It is important for clinical trials to have participants of different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities so study results may have a wider applicability.