How to Care for an Elderly Loved One

If you have an elderly loved one who is in need of assistance, you want to make sure that you provide the needed level of care and support.  It can be difficult knowing where to start.  Follow these guidelines when looking for ways to help your elderly loved one live his or her everyday life. 

Determine the level of care that is needed

You will need to assess the situation to determine what your loved one needs help with.  This will allow you to give all the assistance that is needed.

Consider the following:

• What type of care does my loved one need?
• Is he or she able to get help while living at home?
• Would he or she be better in an assisted living facility? 
• Does he or she need medical assistance?

Determine if your loved one has health insurance

You need to know whether your love one has health insurance that will help pay for the costs of care. If not, you may need to explore other insurance options.

Consider the following:

• What costs will be associated with the care needed?
• What will my loved one’s insurance cover?
• Will Medicare cover any of the costs?
• Will my loved one be eligible for Medicaid?

Assess your loved one’s legal plan

It is important to take the time to see what type of estate planning your loved one has in place.  Although it is sad to think about, you want to make sure that your loved one is ready for the unexpected. 

Consider the following:

• Do I know where my loved one stores his or her estate planning documents?
• Has my loved one outlined his or her funeral wishes?
• Does my loved one have a living will?
• Does my loved one have disability planning?

If you have any questions about caring for your elderly loved one, consult with an experienced estate planning attorney.