Many adults require long-term care when they grow older. Grown children who are in their forties through sixties and who may be busy with their own careers and children may also take on the job of caring for their elderly parents. Trying to care for children and your parents can be a financial and emotional burden. The staff at Elder Care Direction can give you some guidance so that you can better understand the options that you have.
Figuring out what you need to do
You can start by asking a number of questions to help you to decide what your loved one might need, including the following:
- What type of care does your parent currently need?
- Are your parent’s needs likely to change?
- Could your parent be taken care of with some help from a home health aide at home?
- Is assisted living an appropriate choice?
- Does your elderly parent have a mental condition that necessitates specialized care?
Health insurance and Medicare
You also need to think about your parent’s health insurance needs. You can ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the cost of care that your parent will need?
- Does your parent qualify for Medicaid to pay for care?
- What type of health insurance does your parent have?
- Does your parent have or need long-term care insurance?
Taking over decisions
There might be a time when you will need to be able to make basic health care and financial decisions for your parent. You will want to know if your parent has a living will or a power of attorney for finances. If your parent is still able to consent to a power of attorney, you can have one drafted by a lawyer. If your parent is no longer able to consent, you may need to talk to an attorney about the guardianship process.
End-of-life issues
You next need to think about your parent’s end-of-life issues. You will want to find out if your parent has a will. If your parent does not, you might want to investigate how you can help your parent create a will. You will want to discuss your parent’s final wishes with him or her such as what he or she would like for the final ceremony.
You should ask your parent for information on where you can find important documents. These documents include any wills or trusts, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, bank accounts, stocks, and safe deposit boxes.
Get help from Elder Care Direction
Once you have reviewed all of these things and have a general idea of the tasks that need to be completed, you can ask for help from the professionals at Elder Care Direction. Our team is focused on helping older adults and their loved ones to plan for care and for end-of-life issues. Schedule a consultation today by filling out our online contact form.