Because failing to plan with your aging relative can make a bad situation worse. And the loved ones you tried to protect by not preparing will be the ones who endup suffering the most.
While you might think they, your parents or aging relatives are invincible, putting together a caregiving plan with them and your siblings or other family members can eliminate your problems at home and work. In addition to minimizing the 'up against the wall' scrambling and family tensions that commonly arise when a once-independent loved one needs more consistent care, a caregiving plan can also help reduce a family's financial strain.
The truth is that family caregiving responsibilities take a toll on family finances. A study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, for example, found that caregiver respondents reported an average loss of $566.443 in wage wealth - all because of the unanticipated consequences of their caregiving responsibilities. It's not just the caregivers who are affected. Without a caregiving plan, those family members most affected by the crisis - the care recipients themselves - end up with the least say in their wishes and priorities for the future. It's hard to imagine not having control over your own future, but too often that is what happens when families don't ask the important questions ahead of time.
Once you have assessed the care recipient's needs, it's time to look at alternatives for filling them. Talk with family members and close friends about what they might be able to contribute toward the caregiving effort: time, skills, space, equipment, money and moral support.
No one can do this alone, ask for help from friends and family members. Ask your children to help too. It's important to define the tasks and agree upon them in advance to avoid difficulties later. Perhaps one person can prepare meals, one can do the yardwork, one can provide beauty treatments and manicures, and another can provide transportation. Other tasks you might want to split up; making home repairs, cleaning the house, paying bills, balancing the checkbook, coordinating healthcare, and filling out tax forms.
Someone needs to gather basic information on the care recipient, as healthcare professionals will need this. Include the Social Security number, Medicare ID number, insurance policies and numbers, doctors' names and numbers, medications, allergies, family medical history, and lifestyle information (smoking, caffeine, alcohol and sleep patterns).
Keep the information handy in a wallet or on the refrigerator door. Consider making copies and keeping in safe place
Once family and friends choose their responsibilities, you can tap into community resources to fill the eldercare gaps.
