The last thing any parent wants is to be a burden on their children as they are aging. That is especially true for those that are impacted by neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's, Lewy Body Dementia or Alzheimer's. But it is so important to involve and engage them with you on your journey. Being open about your needs helps your children understand how to help you.
One of the areas in which you can help is to prepare for your journey and to make sure that your wishes are made known. Your children will be so relieved to know that they can honor your wishes with dignity, making any future difficult decisions easier and stress free - especially during what can already be an emotional time.
Talking openly about your health conditions and stressing the importance of needing care and assistance is critical. Your children may have their own children or demanding jobs, and by planning ahead you ease a burden on the biggest questions they might have, like:
Would mom or dad prefer to stay home?
What medical decisions do they want me to make on their behalf?
How can I know what finances need to be managed, or how do I access that?
How can I make sure I honor their wishes throughout the care journey - helping them stay independent but also safe?
And so much more...
If you plan to designate one of your children as your Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy, it is important to document your wishes and your business in a way that is easy to follow and understand. By putting together a long term care plan, you are able to clearly communicate all items that will need their attention when you can no longer manage them yourself.
Do you have multiple children? By clearly stating an estate and inheritance plan - you can help minimize conflict between siblings because they know how to honor your wishes.
Understanding your options and what you can afford upfront can help you have a voice in how your assets are retained and distributed throughout your care journey, but most importantly can ensure that you are cared for in a way that brings dignity and respect - whether that is at home or at a senior living community.
Engage Care Partners can partner with you to help:
Identify, assign, and document Powers of Attorney, Advanced Medical Directives and Health Care Proxies as well as ensure your wishes are communicated well with those you assign
Prepare and document assets and items of inheritance - bringing in necessary legal or financial advice from local advisors and attorneys as needed
Determine if living at home or choosing a senior community is in you and your family's best interest for where to age well
Put together a plan and a budget when it comes to healthcare providers and resources available locally to help offset care needs as they arise
Help you put together your legacy with publications and memoirs for generations to come so you can leave your mark in this world with those you love
Giving your children the gift of preparedness with clear documentation and guidance about your wishes is one of the greatest gifts and best ways to ease burdens on them. But remember, you are cherished and your children will want to do right by you. Help them do that by being clear and decisive in your wishes and documenting and communicating with them in a way that brings harmony to all on the journey with you.
Engage Care Partners, LLC is a small firm focused on improving care navigation for those impacted by chronic illness in the Greater Birmingham and Shelby County Areas of Alabama. If you are interested in learning more about how you can give your children the gift of preparedness, contact us at brooklyn.white@engagecarepartners.com, or call us at 1.205.843.1908.
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