Plan If You Need Longterm Care At Home Or In A Nursing Home

Dicussing long-term care before the need arises is important.

People do not like to think of long-term care needs for the elderly, either for themselves or for their family members. However, discussing and researching available options before care is needed will help ensure that rash decisions are not made. By planning out long-term care and finance it beforehand, everyone will be more comfortable when and if the need arises for such services.

Instructions

1. Write out possible future scenarios and what may happen to you or your elderly family members. Is there a common familial illness that needs to be considered? Are there any geographical locations you may want to reside in, such as one closer to family?

2. Research the types of care options that are available. These include home care, senior housing, assisted living and nursing homes. Medicare online has a long-term planning tool that can help an individual choose very specific options that meet her criteria.

3. Calculate costs and finances. Do you plan on utilizing savings? What will insurance or medicare cover? Consider purchasing long-term care insurance through the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) or another respected agency.

4. Visit long-term care facilities in the geographical area in which you want to reside. This is a good way to get an idea about what senior housing, assisted living facilities or nursing homes actually provide. Call ahead of time and ask for a tour.

5. Coordinate a meeting with any family members who could be involved in long-term care decisions. It is important to begin this discussion before the need actually arises. Some adult children may want to care for their parents at home, but would like to set up some kind of payment plan beforehand. Other elderly family members may be adamantly opposed to certain types of institutionalized care. Discuss these types of concerns and visit an estate planning attorney if necessary.

6. Obtain or create a living will, which can be printed out from the Internet or filled out at an attorney's office. Living wills can assist with long-term care planning as they express what types of life-saving measures you find acceptable. Make sure family members know where your living will is located so they can find it in case of emergency.

Tags: long-term care, family members, assisted living, before need, elderly family, elderly family members