Four Steps to Creating an Elder Care Plan

Elder care planning refers to a strategy for handling all personal and financial affairs of senior citizens during the last stages of their lives. One major part of elder care is long-term care, a range of services that can help the elderly when they are no longer able to perform everyday activities on their own. Unfortunately, long-term care and other elder care issues are often avoided by families and only discussed when they arise, often after catastrophic events take place.

Planning in advance for elder care can prepare families for unexpected situations. Here are some tips to help you develop your elder care plan:

Take care of the paperwork.

One of the first steps in elder care planning is making sure all legal documents are in order. While health and financial paperwork can be uncomfortable to discuss, it is important to make sure the crucial information is organized and a person is chosen as an advocate.

Some of the most important documents to take care of are wills, trusts, health care power of attorney, durable financial power of attorney, investments, health insurance, and long-term care insurance. Some people may also choose to make burial arrangements and discuss end-of-life wishes with their close family members.

While these discussions can be difficult, planning in advance can make life easier for both the elderly and the family members that will take care of them.

Create a care plan and a personal care agreement.

A care plan can help both family caregivers and long-term care providers meet the needs and preferences of seniors. Having a care plan will make it easier for caregivers to organize daily tasks and duties. The care plan should be reviewed regularly and updated as new needs arise.

Taking care of an elderly parent for a long time can become a financial burden for caregivers. To mitigate this issue, family caregivers can create personal care agreements with the help of an elder law attorney to arrange payment for all the services they provide. This document is extremely important if the care recipient needs to file a Medicaid application.

Choose a care team.

Depending on the situation, caregivers may end up needing to dedicate a lot of time to taking care of elderly parents or relatives. Before any assistance is needed, family members should have a conversation and decide together who will be part of the care team. The team can involve relatives, close friends, and even neighbors, though it is usually limited to close family members.

While it may seem unnecessary to have this discussion when no assistance is needed, defining the care team helps ensure your loved one’s needs and preferences will be met. Unexpected events can happen, and family members may suddenly need to take care of their loved ones. Having a plan before it’s needed will make sure you don’t go into caregiving blindly.

Get professional help.

While the first step should always be a discussion between caregivers and care recipients, it can sometimes also be helpful to get professional assistance from elder care professionals and long-term care services.

From elder care attorneys to social workers and in-home care companies, there are many professionals that can help you take care of your loved ones. You can get professional help with financial planning, which is a significant part of elder care.