Conversation tips, suggestions for future planning with your parents

The best way to predict the future is to create it. ~ 
Abraham Lincoln

As your parents age, planning for the future is not only in their best interests, but also those of the entire family.

To help ensure their continued care and well-being it’s best to start early. Doing so helps things go much more smoothly as planning then becomes a normal routine of life as they get older.

You want to establish an ongoing, honest conversation about health, housing and finances so you can lay the groundwork to meet your parents’ needs and wishes when the time comes. Here are a few topic and sample questions to help guide the conversation with your parents:

1.  Legal Issues and Estate Planning: Is their Will up to date? Help them plan out how their assets will provide for their own care and future.

2. Medical Care and Expenses: Have they signed up for all benefits available to them such as Social Security, Medicare, VA Benefits and Retirement?  Do they have Long-Term Care Insurance? Long-Term Care Insurance is typically difficult and very expensive to obtain after the age of 70.

3.  Housing: What home modifications can be planned to help them around the house? Where would your parents like to live if they had to leave their home? Help find options that work for them.

I have been in the Assisted Living Industry for more than 15 years and have often helped families have these conversations.  Being direct is often the best approach. The main thing is to let your parents know the conversation is about them and their wishes for the future.

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