Answer these important questions to get started
When it comes to contemplating our own potential long-term care needs for the future, most people would prefer to avoid the subject completely. Despite any unpleasantness, having these types of conversations is an absolute necessity. What if you develop Alzheimer’s? What if your spouse falls, breaks a hip, and is unable to recover the way they used to?
As you begin the process of making the best long-term care decisions for you and your family, it’s easy for all of the what-ifs, information, forms and meetings to overwhelm you. The following questions will help you to navigate this complex and often intimidating process by breaking it down into manageable topics. The goal is to focus on individual topics, one at a time, to help plan for next steps.
This list of discussion points will help you get everything in order to plan for long-term care with your loved ones:
Lifestyle
- What does your current daily routine look like?
- What are your expectations and hopes for the future?
- Are there situations that you’ve seen, experienced or heard about from your friends that you would like to avoid, especially at a time when you’re most vulnerable?
Legal
- Do you have a current will or a living will?
- Have you appointed power of attorney to anyone and filed the necessary documents?
- Are all documents up-to-date and kept in a secure location?
- Is there a loved one or trusted guardian who can easily access the documents when necessary? (Keep in mind that access must be granted in advance if kept in a safe deposit box.)
Finances
- What are your current sources of income?
- How are your bills currently getting paid?
- Is there discretionary income that can be redirected, if necessary?
Medical Care:
- Who are your primary doctors, and what is the best way to reach them?
- Is your medical family history up to date and accessible to family as well as doctors?
- Is permission granted to appropriate parties to allow for the release of medical information?
Care Options:
- Do you know the different options available for receiving care (private home, nursing home, facility, etc.)?
- Where would you like to receive care?
- Do you have a preference on who provides care?
- Is there anything in place to help pay for care down the line?
Long Term Care Costs:
- Have you done any research about the cost of long-term care in the area?
- Is there anything in place that will help fund your future years?
Let Envisage help you envision a future that addresses potential long-term care needs. The sooner you start tackling questions together, the earlier you’ll gain a better understanding of what is possible for the future and how to prepare for it.
Learn more about why our members chose Envisage and how it supports their long-term care plan by clicking HERE.