Talking to your parents about long-term care may seem like an impossible task. In fact, you may have been putting it off for weeks, months or even a year. Unfortunately, the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to have the conversation and to find proper care that you can trust. The last thing you want to do is to move them into a Gainesville nursing facility without taking enough time to ensure it is safe and your parent, or parents, will be free from the risk of abuse.
Fortunately, there are various resources available to help you and your parents take the necessary steps to address various estate planning issues. Here are some tips on how to have a conversation about long-term care with your parents.
Keep the possibilities open
One of the main reasons why you should have the conversation as soon as possible is to keep plenty of possibilities on the table. Many care facilities have a waiting list, and this means that if your parents already have an idea of the home they would like to move in to, it is important to reserve a spot as soon as possible. If they do not know what facility they would like to move to, starting early gives you plenty of time to shop around for the right fit.
Explore other options
If your parents are convinced that they will never need to move into a nursing facility, then you need to talk to them about exploring other options. Do they want a live-in caregiver when the time comes, or would they prefer a nurse that comes by for a few hours per day two or three time each week? The important thing is that you sit down with them and address these issues as well as any necessary updates to their wills and health care directives.
Why the talk is difficult
The main reason why talking with your parents about long-term care and estate planning is so difficult is because you are essentially addressing end-of-life matters. Not only will they not want to think about their own deaths, you more than likely do not want to think about their passing either. However, leaving these issues until it is too late can result in a multitude of problems, both for you and them.
If you have elderly parents and you have not discussed their plans for long-term care or their estate, it is vital to do so as soon as possible. In addition, if you have not begun the estate planning process, it may be time to start doing your own planning as well.
Kevin Tharpe
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