Caring for an elderly parent can be so stressful. It can feel like you’re just moving from one crisis to another without having time to catch your breath. Every twist and turn comes with new challenges. Figuring out how to deal with those challenges is like starting a new 1000-piece puzzle every time something crops up.
Having a plan for your aging parents can help you prepare for what lies ahead – even when you don’t know what lies ahead. Our Elder Care Advisors have spent countless hours working with thousands of families over the years.
One solution that we know will save caregivers time and effort is organizing the following six areas. You’ll be surprised how having this information at your fingertips can really keep you from scrambling.
Caring for an Elderly Parent? Get Organized Around These 6 Things:
- Personal information – Life will be easier if you know your loved one’s full legal name (and maiden name), date and place of birth, driver’s license number, and marriage dates.
- General Contact Information – Make sure you know the information for your loved one’s attorneys, advisors (taxes and finances), utility companies, lawn caretakers, banks, and other important personal contacts.
- Important Documents – You should know where important documents like Powers of Attorney, Trusts, Last Will & Testament, property deeds, marriage licenses, and military paperwork/discharge are located.
- Medical Information – You need to know information like the medical insurance company, Medicare number, family doctor and any specialists, optometrist, dentist, pharmacy, current up-to-date list of prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications.
- Financial Information – If your loved one is sick, then they will have a difficult time staying on top of financial stuff. It will be hugely helpful for you to have their bank account information, life insurance information, investment account information, income numbers, real estate, safe deposit box access, home insurance/car insurance, tax returns, and vehicle titles.
- Account Login and Password Information – At the very least, you need this information for “my Social Security,” pension or retirement accounts, credit cards, email, and Amazon.
A lot of the above information can be recorded in this free resource – The Complete Care Plan. Our hope is that this resource will be a great help to those who are caring for elderly parents or loved ones.
Informed families make better decisions!
By taking a couple of hours to organize this information or fill out The Complete Care Plan, you can save yourself so much work and stress.
One of the biggest challenges of caring for an aging loved one is managing the unexpected. Being prepared and organized when a crisis hits will make it much easier to handle. Getting, and staying, organized will allow you more time to care for the ones you love.
Our Elder Care Advisors help families everyday make the best decisions possible around the legal, financial, and care needs of of aging loved ones. An Elder Care Conference will help you stop spinning your wheels and get on the right track to reducing stress, getting the right care, and protecting family resources. Give us a call today, and get the support you need as you care for your elderly parents.