home caregivers
What happens when senior caregivers become seniors themselves?
Any of us who are home caregivers for elderly relatives know how much planning and work is involved in meeting their needs. We also come to realize how helpful it would be for our own kids or other family members if we planned ahead for our senior years.
It’s true that this planning takes time and money, but it can make our later years much more secure and happy. Planning is also a lot easier when you can do it in advance, at your leisure, instead of when an urgent need arises.
The recently published Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions (Paul and Lori Hogan, McGraw-Hill, 2009) provides some useful hints on organizing your future:
- Prioritize your needs beyond the essentials of housing and food. Is continuing education important to you, or annual vacations with family, or a property that allows you to garden?
- Ensure that your home is “elder-friendly” for the years to come. If you’re moving, for instance, keep in mind that you may not want to climb a lot of stairs in 15 years.
- Plan your estate and make sure your will is in order.
- Prepare an advance directive that details your wishes if you cannot make medical decisions yourself.
- Assign a power of attorney in case you are disabled by illness or an accident.
- Provide your family with instructions about your final wishes when you die.
- Research long-term care protection. A policy can help pay for professional nonmedical home care or other care needs.
Having plans in place for your own future will mean you have one less thing to worry about in your busy life. That can help decrease stress and increase everybody’s quality of life as you care for your own parents.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
