How do you cope with the fear that your parents will eventually die?

I always find that preparation always lessens my fears. You need to take the time and write down exactly what your fear is. Once you have a true understanding then figure out a plan to minimize the impact and ultimately execute the plan. You might have to go thru the process a number of times but you will get some relief from your fear. It helps. Do it. Don't just think about it. Often the fear you don't know is much scarier than the one you understand.

Like everyone else who has lived on this planet. Own it. It’s going to happen. Live a life worth living wether it’s for your kids, significant other or some cause.

My father died last June and apart from the initial shock (which was mostly me not thinking about the fact that he died), the biggest thing was that he's no longer with me. I used to visit occasionally, and we'd talk for hours about stuff, but that will no longer be possible. The past will always be memories, but the sadness comes because we won't have any interaction in the future. The whole idea of him won't evolve, and you will no longer discover anything new about him (people talking about him don't really matter). What makes me sad is all the little stuff that will no longer take place because he is just not here.

But I'm used to the idea of everyone having an unknown, finite time on earth. So while the loss can be huge, I try to make every moment I spend with my family, positive and meaningful.

It's not really a fear for me. I've spent all of my life to get to a point to where I could live independent from them. They could die right now and, aside from the natural sadness, I would still be able to live my life. I don't really know what I would have to be afraid of, except for the sadness itself - which is far too common in my life for me to fear anymore.

I think the fundamental fear is to fear that one may waste one's whole life, achieving nothing and having no friend and dying alone.

This fear creates all other fears such as the one described in topic.

After losing my father I realized I have only one desire in life and that is to spend time with my family.

Since the I spend as much time with my mother as possible.

The fear is that when they go, you've moved right up towards the front of the queue for the chopping block.

Devote your life to saving your parents'..most people are really lazy and don't try that hard.

By also accepting that you might yourself die before they do - cherish every moment you have with them!

I talk to my Dad every day.