Aging With Grace
An Elder Care Planning Road Map
Make sure you and your parents are ready to make
important decisions as they age.
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
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
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
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?
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)
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.