When caring for elderly parents, there are times when you may have to have uncomfortable conversations, regarding their health, living arrangements, and finances. While these conversations are not always pleasant it’s important when taking care of aging parents to have these talks sooner than later so that you can address any issues and have plans in place for the future. From estate planning to finding the best Halfiax home care, read on for Parkwood Home Care’s list of important conversations to have with your parents.
Estate Planning, Advanced Healthcare Planning, and Living Will
The first conversation you should have when caring for elderly parents is one about their estate planning, advanced healthcare planning, and living will. Discussing these topics will help ensure that your parent will be prepared in case of the worst. Estate planning involves outlining how your parent would like their assets to be distributed after they pass away, ensuring their finances and personal property are divided among family members in the way that they see fit. Advanced healthcare planning focuses on making decisions about potential medical treatment and end-of-life care that your parents may receive in the future. This can involve the creation of a living will, which is a document that communicates what your parent wants to be done in terms of life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and other medical interventions.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Another conversation you need to have when taking care of aging parents is about long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance is designed to cover the costs associated with extended care needs that may arise in the later stages of life. As our parents age, their health and mobility might change, requiring assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Long-term care insurance helps alleviate the financial burdens that can accompany these needs. This allows your parents to receive necessary care while minimizing the stress associated with its cost.
Home Care Services
A third conversation that you’ll want to have with your aging parents is whether or not they need to utilize a home care service like Parkwood Home Care. Many seniors think that home care services are only beneficial for those who need a lot of assistance, such as those requiring live-in care. While home care is certainly useful for those individuals, it’s also beneficial for seniors who only need part-time assistance. For example, Parkwood Home Care’s Companion CARE program is perfect for seniors who want just enough care to feel more independent, get out of the house more, and have more companionship but don’t need around-the-clock service. This program is designed to help seniors engage with their world more through outings and walks while having assistance with tasks that may be more difficult for them such as shopping, reading, and light housekeeping. Parkwood Home Care also offers hourly, post-surgery care for people who need temporary care while recovering. This service includes bathing, grooming and dressing, emulation, wake up and tuck in, light housekeeping, and meal preparation services.
Parkwood Home Care Helps with Caring for Elderly Parents
When caring for an elderly parent, having these difficult conversations is crucial. But, after you’ve had these conversations with your parent, it’s just as important to start taking some action whether that be through finding a lawyer to help your parent craft their living will or by looking into home care services. If you’re trying to find the best home care services in the Halifax, Dartmouth, or Bridgewater areas, Parkwood Home Care is ready to help you. We offer only the highest quality home care services, and we treat your family the way we would treat our own. If you’re taking care of aging parents and need assistance with home care, contact us and our “Newfoundland Ladies” to learn more about our home care services today!