Having a discussion with older parents about long-term senior care planning is important.
Being together over the holidays is a fantastic time to get caught up and the perfect time to have discussions about long-term senior care planning with elderly parents. Having an open and honest discussion around care needs, home modifications and finances is important to help fulfill the wishes of senior loved ones.
Compassionate Nursing Services has put together some important questions for you to cover during your conversation:
- Would you like to continue to live at home as you grow older, or consider a move elsewhere? The vast majority of seniors prefer to remain at home throughout aging over a move to an assisted living facility or a nursing home, or moving in with adult children. Should this be the case with your parents, figure out any changes that need to take place to enable that desire to become a reality: home modifications and the overall layout of the home, along with a strategy for support if a disability, chronic illness, or simply the challenges of aging make it hard to stay safe and independent.
- What community services, amenities, and organizations would you like to continue to access? Obviously, your parents will need to be able to get groceries as well as other essential supplies and keep up with medical appointments and procedures, but find out what else will likely be essential to them as they get older, such as attending religious services, hair and/or nail salon appointments, sporting events, visits with friends and neighbors, etc. How will they carry on with these tasks and activities if they become incapable of driving?
- How will the price for any long-term care needs be covered? Personal finances are sometimes a sensitive subject to broach with your aging parents, but it’s imperative to make certain that a plan is in place to meet future needs. If this hasn’t been done already, now is the ideal time for you to be sure that your parents have designated a power of attorney and met with a financial planner who is able to review savings, investments, estate planning, retirement funds, insurance, etc. and develop a strategy to pay for any potential expenses pertaining to aging care.
- Who is in your network of support? It’s a wise idea to put together a list of your parents’ close friends, neighbors, and other members of the family who are available to assist in the event of an unexpected emergency or just as your parents’ abilities change through aging. Prioritize the list in the order your parents prefer them to be contacted if a need develops, and then share the list with anyone who may have the need to get in touch with them (including those on the list themselves).
At Compassionate Nursing Services, we work with seniors and their loved ones as they make a plan for long-term senior care needs. Because our senior care services are highly customized, we can begin providing assistance in only a couple of areas, for only a few hours each week, such as assistance with meals, housekeeping, and running errands, and add in additional support over time as needed.
Contact our aging care experts at 314-432-4312 for the reliable support your senior parents need to stay safe, comfortable, and thriving at home for a lifetime. We are always available to answer any questions you may have, and also to schedule a complimentary in-home assessment to share more about our top-rated senior care in Oakville and the surrounding communities.