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CREATING A CARE PLAN

With more Americans living well beyond their 70s, more adult children are now left in a position where they find themselves caring for aging parents. For many, providing help for aging parents can be financially, logistically and emotionally challenging. This is why addressing long-term care needs before a major life event occurs can help alleviate some of the stress. Here are four steps to creating a cohesive care plan:

1. CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Put together a list of topics and questions to discuss with your parents. Consider the following:

• Family Support – who is available to provide support/care as needed? • Home Safety – are there safety concerns to be addressed? • Medical/Cognitive – are medical and cognitive health needs being considered? • Mobility – what assistance with transportation is needed? • Legal Documents & Finances – are there plans in place for paying for long-term care? Have necessary legal documents been addressed? • Housing – is their preference to age at home or move to a senior community? • Socialization – are they getting adequate opportunity to socialize?

Remember

• Support comes in many shapes • Open the lines of communication before a crisis happens • Understand their financial situation without judgment • It’s not all about you

Communicate your concerns and include your parents in the dialogue on their future needs. If they’re unwilling to discuss something you feel is important, agree to a time in the future when they would be willing to readdress.

2. RESEARCH ELDERCARE PROVIDERS AND RESOURCES

The current and future needs of your loved one will dictate the types of services and resources you need to look for. Explore available aging options on srgtexas.com.

3. CREATE A CARE PLAN

Put a plan together that everyone agrees will meet both immediate and long-term needs. See an example of a Care Plan in our Caregiver Toolkit.

4. EXECUTE A CARE PLAN

Now that you’ve outlined any needs, steps and goals, along with roles and responsibilities, it’s time to put the plan into action.

Over time, you’ll need to look for signs and know when to reassess the situation to put updated roles and responsibilities in place.

Start here

To see a Care Plan example and access a free template for you to work from, visit srgtexas.com/getcaregivertoolkit