Make it a priority to discuss long term care planning with elderly parents.
Being together over the holidays is a great time to get caught up and the perfect time to have discussions about long term care planning with elderly parents. Having an open and honest conversation around care needs, home modifications and finances is important to help meet the wishes of senior loved ones.
Absolute Companion Care has put together some important questions for you to address during the discussion:
- Would you like to continue to live at home as you get older, or consider a move elsewhere? The vast majority of older adults wish to remain at home throughout aging over a move to an assisted living facility or a nursing home, or moving in with adult children. If this is the case with your parents, consider any changes which need to take place in order for that desire to become a reality: house modifications along with the general layout of the home, in addition to a plan for support if a disability, chronic illness, or simply the challenges of aging make it difficult to remain safe and independent.
- What community services, amenities, and organizations would you like to continue to access? Of course, your parents will need to be able to get food and other necessary supplies and keep up with medical appointments and procedures, but discover what else may be essential to them as they get older, such as going to religious services, nail and/or hair salon appointments, sporting events, visits with friends and neighbors, etc. How will they keep up with these activities and tasks if they become unable to drive?
- How will the price for any long term care needs be covered? Finances are frequently a sensitive topic to broach with your aging parents; however, it’s important to make certain that a plan is in place to meet future needs. If this hasn’t been done already, now is the perfect time for you to make sure your parents have designated a power of attorney and met with a financial planner who can review investments, savings, retirement funds, insurance, estate planning, etc. and develop a plan to cover any prospective expenses related to aging care.
- Who is in your network of support? It is a good idea to come up with a list of your parents’ close friends, neighbors, and other members of the family who will be available to help in the event of emergency or simply as your parents’ abilities change through aging. Prioritize the list in the order your parents would like them to be contacted if a need occurs, and then share the list with anybody who may have the need to reach out to them (including those on the list themselves).
At Absolute Companion Care, we work with seniors and their loved ones as they make a plan for long term care needs. Because our home care services are highly customized, we can begin providing assistance in only a couple of areas, for just several hours every week, such as assistance with housekeeping, meals, and running errands, and you can add in additional support over time as needed.
Contact our aging care experts at 410-357-9640 for the reliable support your senior parents need to stay safe, comfortable, and thriving at home for a lifetime. We’re always available to answer any questions you have, and also to schedule a complimentary in-home assessment to share more about our Glencoe long term care services and the surrounding communities we serve.