How to Approach Your Aging Parents With The Subject of Their Long-Term Care

Elderly family members dislike losing their autonomy or moving away from the home they've occupied for a long time, but you need to have these discussions with your parent as soon as possible. Discuss health, safety, and challenges first. Start early to include your parent in medical, long-term care, and financial planning. Talking with your parents about long-term care now will make a tough moment easier later.

Set An Agenda

Before talking with your parents, write down the aspects of long-term care to be discussed. Get your siblings' input in composing your notes. Topics might include whether mom and dad prefer home care or a long-term care facility. Do your folks have a plan for paying for comprehensive healthcare? Also, explore who your parents' caregivers will be. Ask if your parents have essential documents like a living will and powers of attorney.

Choose The Right Time And Place

Broach the subject of long-term care when that conversation is your's and your parent's sole focus. Family gatherings and celebrations are not an ideal time to explore the topic of long-term care. Any place outside their home is best for conferring with mom and dad regarding their future care plans, perhaps at a restaurant. Talking to all the kids at once about long-term care may cause your parents to feel outnumbered, so only have one other sibling present during the conversation.

Find The Best Way To Approach The Subject

Mom and dad might be open to a scheduled family long-term care discussion with all the kids present. If the topic of their future care makes your folks uncomfortable, use a story about an acquaintance whose parents need long-term care or an article you read about long-term care to segue into a talk about mom and dad's future healthcare strategy. For parents, who refuse to discuss long-term care under any circumstances, write them a letter or email explaining why a long-term health plan is necessary.

Discussing Potential Caregivers

It is more than likely your parents will want to receive long-term care at home and figure on being each other's caregivers. Should the day come that mom and dad can't care for each other and you and your siblings cannot act as caregivers, will your parents be open to having a professional carer assist them? If their health urges their parents to leave their home, is there a particular facility where they would prefer to receive care? Or they want a full-time carer at home from In- Home Care Phoenix.

Discussing Financing Long-Term Care

One thing that everyone must understand about long-term care is that it is not covered by most private health insurance and Medicare. Medicaid will defray some of the cost of extended care if your parents qualify for Medicaid coverage.

If mom and dad are in their 50s or early 60s, talk to them about purchasing long-term care insurance. Ask if your parent's life insurance policy has a long-term care rider. A reverse mortgage is a potential means of covering extended care for mom and dad.

The Veteran's Administration provides help with long-term care if the mom and or dad served in the military. Research whether your parents' home state participates in the Partnership For Long-Term from Phoenix Home Care.