How To Plan A Future For Your Aging Parent

Planning a future for your aging parent can sometimes seem challenging. But with the right approach, anyone can do it. You just need to have your wits about you. 

In this post, we provide some strategies for how you can do it and ensure that they have the best life possible. Here’s our advice:

Start With Honest Conversations Early

The first place to start is with honest conversations early. You want to begin by learning things like what they want and how they want to spend their older years. You might want to mention senior housing options, as these tend to be better than just living at home alone. 

If you start conversations when they are in a place of strength, you’ll begin the process from a position where they don’t feel threatened. Then, over time, they should become more amenable to your ideas and more willing to want to explore them. 

Assess Their Current Health Needs

The next step is to assess their current health needs. You want to figure out where they are now. Hopefully, they’ll be healthy and fighting fit. But it really depends on their personal situation and what they need. 

For example, you’ll want to think about mobility. This determines where they live, the car they drive, and the transport services they use. 

You also want to consider their cognitive status. Poor cognition can make it much harder for them to live independently. 

Get Legal Docs Ready

You also want to ensure you’ve got all the legal paperwork in order. Most countries have strict rules about what relatives and family members can do, and how much they can interfere. 

The purpose of these legal documents is to protect patients’ wishes. These reduce the risk of legal issues cropping up later, which is something you want to avoid, whether it’s to do with healthcare, the will, or something else. 

Look Into Housing

If your aging parent is still fit and healthy, then that’s great. However, it’s still a good idea to think about various housing options. The earlier you can find something in the right location, the better. Otherwise, you might run into problems later or your parents may have to live somewhere they don’t want to live. 

Review Financial Resources

During this whole process, it’s a good idea to review your parent’s financial resources and see what they can afford. You want to check that they’re managing their money properly and what sort of income support level is sustainable over the long term. 

For example, if they have a large property right now, will they need to downsize? It’s always worth thinking about these things, just because the cost of care is extremely high. 

Create A Medical Care Plan

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to create a medical care plan. You want to make sure they have the coverage and benefits they need. Pay particular attention to this factor if your relative or loved one requires long-term care. Naturally, this is the most expensive.