I met with a client this week that reminded me of the importance of planning ahead for your caregiving needs. The client, in his mid-50s, stated that they made changes in housing and care for his parents "in the nick of time." This led to a conversation around the importance of planning ahead for caregiving needs -- and not just from a financial perspective.
Documenting your elder care living wishes and making them available to your family is a gift. It will help take the guess work out of where you will live, who will take care of you, and all of the other difficult questions that families have to answer. These transitions often take place suddenly and during a stressful time. An older individual receives a diagnosis, has a change in health status, or loses a spouse. How much easier would it be if the family had a plan they could put into action vs. scrambling to find care or make modifications to a home?
Let's start with some key questions we can ask as we start to develop our personalized caregiving plans:
Where will I live? Get specific on the city and area of town.
Do you want to remain in your hometown? Are you will to relocate to whichever adult child is willing to have you?
Do you want to stay in your home or in a family member's home for as long as possible? Are you open to a care residence?
If you are going to move in with an adult child, do you want to help make modifications to their home?
If you want to stay at home, do you have the budget to make changes to your home to make it more accessible?
Who will take care of you? Is it a family member or a paid professional? Perhaps a combination of both?
Hopefully these initial questions help get the wheels turning as you plan ahead for the future. These types of decisions are highly personal, so have the conversation with loved ones and document your wishes. Communication is key to help make a caregiving event just a little less stressful for you and your family.
Photo source: Unsplash, Katarzyna Grabowska
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