Are you planning to visit older loved ones this holiday season? Do you try to keep up with them during the year with a weekly phone call but do you find a face-to-face visit is much better. This year, though, do you notice that your older loved ones seem less physically active and more frail? As you spend time with your older loved ones you can take the time to learn how they are doing and even begin to talk to them about long-term planning.
Many families find that long-term planning is a subject that is to be avoided. It is, however, a subject of critical importance. By discussing long-term care early, before a crisis occurs, your aging loved ones will be able to share what they want to happen if they become incapacitated. Also, the family will have peace of mind from being able to work with an experienced Florida elder law attorney to be sure the lifetime savings of your aging loved ones are protected from nursing home bills.
Now that you know you need to have the conversation about long-term care, how do you begin? We find most of our clients have questions and we understand because long-term planning can be complicated. We want to share our end of the year long-term care planning checklist that you will need to review when talking to your older loved ones about long-term care planning over the holidays, or anytime throughout the year.
- Do your loved ones still live on their own in their home?
- Are there any mobility issues within their home?
- Is their home equipped for them to age in place?
- Do they have a life alert or alarm system in place to help them should they fall?
- Do you know if there have been changes to their doctors or their medications?
- Are their doctors still covered by their insurance?
- Are there any new health care concerns that have come up over the past year?
- Do your senior loved ones have a strong local support system?
- How is their mental health?
- How collaborative is your family dynamic?
- Do they have a Florida estate plan and is it up to date?
- Are they able to live comfortably off their monthly income?
- Do they have long-term care insurance?
- If necessary, how long could they afford to pay for a nursing home out of pocket?
- Do you know if they have worked with an experienced Florida elder law attorney to create a plan for long-term care?
Again, we know that long-term planning can be a difficult conversation to have, but it is critical. If your aging loved ones feel anxious about their future, this planning can help alleviate that. When you and your older loved ones plan for their long-term care, the entire family can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with that.
Our office can help guide a family through long-term care planning for aging parents and loved ones. No matter where you are in life’s journey, we can help. The most important thing is to protect yourself and those you love. Whether you need to update your estate plan, are preparing for future long-term care needs, or have a loved one entering or already in a nursing home, we are ready to assist you. We have three convenient locations and are ready to serve the communities around Highlands and Polk County, Florida. Take your first step by contacting us today.
