More Americans are living longer today, meaning that more will also need long-term care. Elder Care Direction helps older adults and their families to understand the different options that may be available to them. We are able to help you to prepare different documents and can refer you to our prescreened partners if you require legal assistance. If you are currently taking care of an elderly adult, you may need to think about some financial and legal matters. Here’s what you should do to prepare.
Determine what needs to be done
You should start by creating a list of things that need to be done. Having a list can help to minimize feelings of being overwhelmed. To determine the type of care that your loved one might need, ask the following questions:
- What type of care does your loved one need now, and will it change in the future?
- Could your loved one be taken care of at home with some help?
- Does your loved one need assisted living?
- Will your loved one need nursing home care?
- Does your loved one have a mental condition that might require him or her to have special housing and care?
Health Insurance and Medicare
To determine what type of health coverage your loved one might need, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the costs of the care that your loved one might need?
- What will Medicare or Medicaid pay?
- What types of health insurance does your relative have?
- Does your loved one need long-term care insurance, or does he or she already have it?
Making decisions for your loved one
A time may come when you might need to make basic health care and financial decisions for your loved one. To be able to do this, you should start by asking the following questions:
- Does your loved one have a living will?
- Is your loved one unable to make decisions currently?
- Does your loved one have a financial power of attorney document drawn up?
If your loved one needs a health care or financial power of attorney, Elder Care Direction can refer you to one of our partner attorneys for help setting it up. If your loved one is incapacitated, you may need to petition the court to ask to be appointed as your loved one’s guardian.
End-of-life Issues
Here are some questions that you can ask to determine what else might need to be done:
- Does your loved one have a will?
- Has your loved one told you about his or her wishes for his or her funeral and remains?
- Has your loved one told you about where you can find important documents, passwords, and wills or trusts?
Get help from Elder Care Direction
Elder Care Direction is available to help you with the planning process so that it might be less confusing. We can offer the support that you need. Call us today to schedule your consultation so that you can get more information.