When people are young, their parents seem invincible to them. Now, when older, it is clear how wiser, experienced, and stronger they are than their children. It is normal to expect that they will always be present, however, when they come at a certain age, it is important to realize that your parents are becoming frailer and older as time goes by.
There is a chance that accepting the truth that they have become elders is hard. As soon as you reconcile with that fact, it is important to think about what next. One must be responsible and provide their elders with all the best possible and that is why it would be wise to plan with them how you should handle their future. Here are some things to think about when that time comes.
Assist Them With Documents
It is always smart to prepare yourself ahead of an emergency. Help your elders by gathering a folder that will include all documents of importance and put them in a secure place. When all is in one place, check if anything is missing. This folder should have everything from marriage certificates to any information that may concern military records, financial assets, and life insurance policy of your elderly parents or grandparents. You and your family should know where the location of this box, or bag with all documentation is.
After that, it would be wise to think about whether your elderly parents have a will. Even if it is not as pleasant of a conversation, it is surely important. They should meet their solicitor and discuss their assets and their wishes. He will help them in the best possible way with their estate planning. Another thing to consider is a living will that will help you and your family to understand what would be their medical wishes in case they end up in such a situation. These documents are more than important and should be thought about with care and precision.
Where Will They Feel Comfortable?
In case you decide to move your parents to move somewhere near you, have in mind that they have their friends and connections that they are leaving. It would be wise to consider that moving to a new neighborhood can be a difficult and sometimes lonely task. Think about that in case they move next to you, can you help them build up a new social life. More things to consider are, are they able to take transportation, do they drive, and are any senior centers nearby or should they move to an assisted living community where they could meet residents that are their age and do different activities with? Moving your elders near you is certainly a good idea.
However, there are a lot of things to think about and take into consideration before making such a decision. It is suggested that the plan you make you do after they have agreed to the idea. They are the ones who need to remain socially engaged and happy.
Think About Assisted Living Community
The decision about finding someone to take care of your parents, like an assisted living community, should come down at the end of the day to your elder’s decision. In case they have agreed on such an idea, look for something that they might like and fall in love with even if you may not necessarily agree with their choice because it does not meet your criteria. That would be the place where they would be the happiest, not you. In case they are active, something like a swimming pool may influence their choice or in case they enjoy movies, a place with a theater might do the work.
If they are foodies some places with great catering services might be the place they are looking for. Regardless of which place it is, first and foremost, you should have a conversation with your elders and find out what their passions, preferences, and interests are, and then do the research together with them. That way, you could find them a place that they will call home for many years to come.
Even though your elderly parents may be independent and lively, that does not change the fact that such things can be easily changed. In order to plan their future, it would be important to take all of those steps, of course, after communicating with them.
Take some time and organize everything that needs to be sorted and understand what your elders wishes are for the future. By knowing them, your preparations will turn out the best possible as they can be.