Aging With Grace

An Elder Care Planning Road Map

Make sure you and your parents are ready to make
important decisions as they age.


1

Help them stay in their homes longer

Help at Home

  • In-Home Respite Care
  • Post-Hospital Care
  • Homemaking
  • Housekeeping
  • Activities & Outings
  • Transportation
  • Cleaning Service

Care For the Community

  • In-Home Respite Care
  • Post-Hospital Care
  • Homemaking
  • Housekeeping
  • Activities & Outings
  • Transportation
  • Cleaning Service

Reduce Falls

  • Eliminate clutter, have clear walkways
  • Secure rugs, add non-slip strips in tubs
  • Ensure areas are well-list, install night lights
  • Install handrails on stairs, place grab bars in bathroom
  • Reduce winter slip hazards

Improve Nutrition

Body changes make eating less appealing

  • Disassociation between the need for hydration and feeling of thirst
  • Loss of kidney function
  • Taste buds, smell decrease
  • Poor denture fit
  • Gastrointestinal issues
How family can help

FOOD PREP
Make meals social events
Encourage snacking
Prepare bland foods

HEALTH CARE
Have parent get a physical
Visit a registered dietician
Ask about supplements

GET HELP
Hire a home care aide
Get Meals on Wheels

Reduce loneliness

loneliness affects health

How friends and family can help

CALL RATHER
THAN TEXT

SCHEDULE WALKS
OR CAR RIDES

AVOID DISMISSING
LONELY FEELINGS

PRACTICE SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS DAILY

2

Create an essential document box

Organize parents’ financial plans and paperwork

Contact Lists

  • Attorney
  • Financial/investment advisors
  • Insurance agent
  • Physicians

ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS

  • Birth certificate
  • Social Security card
  • Passport
  • Vehicle registration/title
  • Insurance coverage
  • Real estate records

FINANCIAL ACCOUNT
LOCATIONS, NUMBERS

  • Banking
  • Mortgage
  • Credit cards
  • Savings/investment/
    retirement accounts

LEGAL/PLANNING DOCUMENTS

  • Insurance policies
  • Will/Living will
  • Trust documents
  • Power of Attorney
  • Health Care and Finance
  • Funeral wishes/arrangements

3

Choosing assisted living

Understanding emotions of change

ROLES SHIFT

  • Children become caregivers, problem-solvers
  • Plan for progression of additional care

MOVING PARENTS MAY BRING FEELINGS OF GUILT

  • Family and societal pressures
  • Feelings of disloyalty to parents

GETTING PARENTS TO A SAFE PLACE REDUCES GUILT

  • Preserves the loving parent-child relationship
  • Lessens exhaustion from caregiving

4

Questions for assisted living providers

Tour assisted living facilities and ask:

How are fees determined?
How will I be notified of fee changes?

What types of caregivers are on staff (i.e. nurses, CNAs)?

How do we increase or decrease the care needed?

Can I get both employee and family resident references?

How long have the caregivers been employed with you?

What procedures are in place for delivering care 24 hours per day?

What services do you provide?

How long have you been in business?


5

Finances

Understanding financial options

PRIVATE PAY

  • Resident or family needs resources for assisted living care
  • Primarily how payments for skilled nursing care begins

MEDICARE

  • Will pay for short-term rehab at a skilled nursing facility
  • Does not pay for long-term or custodial care

MEDICAID AND FAMILY CARE

  • Person may qualify when less than $2,000 left in assets
  • Not all facilities accept Medicaid (Reimbursement rates below cost of care)

6

After the move

Advocate
for them

Be visible to other
residents, staff

Visit with children,
grandchildren

Caring for aging parents can be a stressful time in life, but we are here to help at all stages of your journey. Get started today.

Contact Us