10 Ways to Help Your POA

Top 10 Ways To Reduce The Burden Of Being Cared For:

It can be tough to avoid becoming emotionally involved in and impacted by an aging parent’s needs. But, what about when YOU become that aging parent? Well, there are things you can do, now, to reduce the likelihood of becoming that caregiving ball-and-chain around your kids’ necks.

Here are 10 ways to start setting things up so that you and those who may help care for you, get on the right path from the start.

Identify who can and will take responsibility:  Among all the details mentioned in the show, this means determining which child(ren) can take responsibility to lead oversight of your personal, financial, legal, and healthcare decisions when needed.

Create a contingency plan: Who will take over if something happens to your medical and financial POA, Executor, or Trustee.  Your life and that of your children may change – for the better or worse – after they’ve agreed to accept responsibility to oversee your care.  Keep aware of their situations and keep conversations open should you have any concerns.  If a spouse will be involved in helping them, consider bringing them into the discussion as well.  The life of a spouse or partner is also impacted, in some way, when it’s time for your child to step into the role they’ve agreed to accept.

Have all legal, financial, and military documents complete, secured, available, and reviewed every few years.  If you haven’t already established a Will or Trust and all the other necessary fiduciary and care oversight legal documents, do so now.  Keep them where they will be safe and available when needed.

Know if, when, and who to hire to support your adult children who will care for you. Overseeing your care will likely have an impact on their career, personal time, relationships, emotional strength, and even financial standing. 

Write out and share your end-of-life extension care wishes. Let those in charge of your care know what you want as far as life-extending care. This will help your family make the right decisions for you when you can’t. This may wind up being a huge gift to them, if and when that time comes.

If that’s your desire, start setting up your home/living environment so that it will be safe for you to stay there later on.  Look about for what will get in the way, and what you don’t really need anymore. Steps now can become mountains later. Slippery areas need handrails. Reduce clutter: things you were planning to give away when you pass, could be given to them now to enjoy. If something doesn’t give you joy every time you look at it, why hold onto it?

Establish a contingency plan should you not have the financial means to care for yourself later. You’ll need to discuss this issue with trusted family members and those who can advise you on financial and legal matters. This will include how to convert what you have, into assets that can cover care costs, to extend how long you can remain in your home (or a care facility), safely.

If you plan to move into a long-term care facility, research and know exactly how they work. Do extensive research, now, on what’s out there. You’ll need to understand who can care for you so that you’re safe and happy for the rest of your days.  This includes the cost of care should you need to move into any of their more advanced care units including assisted living, memory care, nursing care, or rehabilitation care.  What are the associated costs and how will you be cared for?  Ask what happens should they exhaust your financial capability.

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