Caring for an aging parent can be an arduous task, involving decisions and options most people do not know about. To make planning for elder care easier, it may be helpful to break the job into smaller tasks. Below are some tips from the Elder Law Offices of Harvey P. Abramson on caring for elderly parents.
Personal Prep
When preparing to care for aging parents, both parties need to answer these questions:
What type of long-term care will they need? This answer will form the basis for the answers to some of the other questions on this list. No one knows for sure what their aging parent will need, but they should consider their mental and physical condition, family medical history, and their parent’s lifestyle.
What can my parent do to retain their independence and health? Most parents want to stay independent and healthy as long as possible, and any planning should be geared toward that fact, including physical and social activities.
Can other family members help? Whether you’ll be caring for your parent, or they’re going into a managed care setting, you should determine whether any other family members can help on an as-needed basis.
Preparing Housing
Deciding where your elderly parent will live is one of the most difficult decisions to make. If there is a disagreement, consider an approach that combines home and assisted care. You’ll need to answer these questions:
Can they stay in their home?
If they can stay home, does the dwelling need modifications?
What type of community and in-home services can we get?
Are there assisted living facilities in the area?
Preparing Medically
No one likes to think about it, but end-of-life care should be addressed. Consider whether your aging parent has:
A living will: Also called a medical directive, a living will gives care instructions to be followed in the event the parent cannot make their own decisions.
Appointed an agent for health care: Living wills do not cover all situations, and aging parents should name an agent to make decisions when they cannot. The agent’s decision cannot override a medical directive.
