One of the hardest things to realize in life is that your parents have reached old age. As a child, you always see your parents as immortals: they will always be there for you no matter what and no matter how old you get. Of course, this is not the case, and it’s not until adulthood that you truly start to prepare yourself for the inevitable. Your parents – if you are lucky – have spent their lives revolving everything that they do around you. They want to make you feel as comfortable and as happy as possible, and they take care of you. It’s only reasonable that you may one day want to take care of them as they age, too.
No child is forced to look after their parents as they get older, and there is no real obligation for you to have your parents move in with you or pay for senior caregivers one day. However, as their child, you will likely want to look after them – just like they would look after you. Making sure that they are in the best position to enjoy the golden years in life makes you the kind of kind-hearted person you could wish to be! It’s a tricky subject to broach with your parents when they’re elderly, but it’s an important conversation to have. So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at what you need to consider and do with regard to looking after your parents as they age.
- Sit Down And Chat
It’s the first thing that you need to do, and it’s the most awkward piece of the puzzle. You need to talk to your parents about your intentions for them as they get older and ask them what they would like to do. Some parents already have a plan in place and will know they have money and choices to one side about their senior care. Maybe they’ve even picked out the Retirement Community that they love the most. Other parents won’t have thought that far ahead, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t talk about it. Don’t ring them out of nowhere and start firing off questions to ask them. Instead, go round and talk to them about what they want for their future and what their expectations of you are.
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- Be Organized
Do you have siblings? Get together and get organized. Find out the key information and details of anyone involved in their future care, from lawyers and account managers at the bank to your siblings who may have had a chat with them about it, too. Their finances are going to be the main concern, and they need to be straight about what’s going to happen in the future – as does everyone else. It’s a smart idea to find out more about their pension, their government benefits to which they would be entitled and what their plans are for their estate.
- Think About A Power Of Attorney
Your parents may have an idea of whom they would like for their power of attorney. They are more at risk of strokes and illnesses as they get older, and they need to decide on who will take charge of their estate while they still have the mental capacity to make those decisions. Strokes and heart issues can and do happen at any time, so it’s important that they give you legal authority to act on their behalf while they can. It may not be you, but another person they trust. Either way, you need to ensure that you have a power of attorney in place for your parents as early as possible so that they feel secure about who is looking after them.
- Talk About Scams
Some of the most common scams in the world happen to the elderly. They are in a vulnerable category here, and they will often fall victim to technology or phone scams without much thought. Warning your parents about scams is one of the best ways to look after them. Telling them not to pass on their bank details and passwords to anyone, being aware of cyberattacks and not handing out any money to people they do not know is important. It’s not easy to manage your parent’s affairs, but it’s a good plan to get them prepared as much as possible.
Your parents deserve to be as looked after as possible. They have spent time raising you and ensuring that you are as comfortable as possible, so it’s time to return the favor and take care of them as they age.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio