Oftentimes, it's the adult children of seniors who end up pushing a reverse mortgage decision one way or the other. That shouldn't be surprising as many older parents considering a reverse mortgage seek their children's input, knowing that they may very well be the ones who end up having to deal with it in 10-20 years.

So, if your parents are considering a reverse mortgage, here are a few key points to consider:

1. What Brings the Highest Quality of Life - Though choosing to use (or not use) a reverse mortgage may make slightly more financial sense than other options, this should always be a secondary consideration. The biggest single question, considering the fleeting and fragile nature of life, is what choice maximizes their enjoyment during their sunset years? If one choice brings a much higher level of enjoyment with only marginal financial differences, you'll probably want to go with that option.

2. Is the Home "Part of the Family" - If your great-grandfather built the home brick-by-brick, or that farm has been in the family for ten generations, you may not want to use a reverse mortgage. Though a reverse mortgage doesn't result in the automatic seizure of the home at death, heirs without sufficient assets to pay off the loan may be forced into selling something precious to their family.

3. Your Family's Medical History - Since many reverse mortgages require a borrower to continue to reside in the property, moving into a full-time medical facility could result in the loan requiring repayment. If your family has a history of long-term degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, you may want to avoid a reverse mortgage.

For more information on reverse mortgages, check out the following articles:

• Reverse Mortgage Basics
• Disadvantages of a Reverse Mortgage
• Using a Reverse Mortgage Calculator