Monday, February 26, 2018
No one wants to think about their parents aging and needing long-term care; however this is the reality for 70% of Americans over the age of 65.
In order to help your loved ones age with dignity, it’s important to talk with them so you can determine the best way honor their wishes.
If your loved one is ready to create a will or plan for retirement, the elder law attorney at Longstreet Elder Law recommend you contact a reputable law firm as soon as possible.
Below are some important questions you should ask an aging parent:
- Do you wish to stay in your home for as long as possible?
- Would you feel comfortable with in-home senior care?
- Are you able to handle household chores on your own?
- How is your eye sight?
- How is your driving ability?
- When was your last doctor’s appointment?
- Do you have long-term care insurance?
- What does your long-term care insurance cover?
- Do you have any concerns about Medicaid or Medicare?
- Have you discussed your retirement plans with an elder law attorney?
For more questions, our elder law attorneys encourage you to check out AARP’s Caregiving Resource Center.
Have an icebreaker.
Talking about long-term care options will be a stressful conversation for both you and your parents. This is why it’s important to have an icebreaker to help you broach this heavy conversation.
Be sure that you let your parent know that you only want to talk about their long-term care plans because you only want what’s best for them.
Don’t expect to get all the information you need at once.
Having to face a future where you might be dependent on others for basic care can be difficult for people who value their independence. This is why it’s important not to push your parents too hard while asking questions.
We are not suggesting that you shouldn’t ask important questions. Rather we are recommending that you space out hard questions as to not overwhelm your parents. The conversation you have with your aging parent about long-term care will most likely be just the first of many.
Remember to listen.
It’s always better to have a retirement conversation with your parents sooner rather than later. While you are reading this blog post to help you have an honest conversation about long-term care with your parents, make sure that you are also prepared for when they bring up the topic themselves.
Your parents might already be well-aware that they may need long-term care in the near future. If your parent is in the mood to talk about their long-term care plans, you should take advantage of the opportunity and listen to what they have to say.
Bring in a trusted family member or close friend.
If your parents are having difficulty expressing their wishes for retirement, it might be easier to include one of their close friends or another family member in the conversation. Your parent may feel more comfortable talking about their long-term care plans when they are in the company of supportive family members and friends.
However, also be aware that your loved one may be embarrassed to talk about the day they will no longer be independent. In that case, you may want to limit the conversation to as few people as possible to help them keep their pride.
Hire an experienced elder law attorney.
To help your parents protect retirement savings from a nursing home spend down, we recommend you contact a knowledgeable elder law attorney as soon as possible.
If you are interested in consulting with an experienced elder law & estate planning attorney, please feel free to call our elder law attorneys in Michigan at (269) 945-3495 for your free initial consultation. The elder law attorneys at Longstreet Elder Law & Estate Planning are dedicated to helping clients just like you prepare their aging parents for long-term care.
Medicaid Planning