How can you help a senior loved one who lives at home if you don’t live in the same town? Here are some tips:
Communicate on a regular basis.
Call and visit as frequently as you can. Also encourage other friends or family members to visit, and to stay in contact with you. This constant communication helps prevent the feeling of isolation that some older people get and can give you a sense of how they’re doing. During your conversations, ask specific questions like “How was your appointment with Dr. Davidson, and what are the next steps in your treatment?”
Create a digital file of important information.
Keep track of contact information for your loved one’s doctors, health providers, lawyers, financial advisors, insurance agent, friends, neighbors, and other important contacts. Having this information will enable you to step in to help when needed. You can also keep track of doctor’s appointments. Find out from your loved one who they’d like to share this information with.
Find resources local to your loved one.
Develop relationships with individuals who interact regularly with your older family member like neighbors, friends, or church members. Talk to them about calling you if a crisis arises.
Locate daily assistance help.
Build up a care network in your loved one’s local community. If needed, there are organizations that deliver meals, bring seniors to appointments, and make visits just to check in on aging people. Other sources of help:
- Geriatric care managers
- Home care and companion services
- Elder care attorneys
- Adult day care and senior centers
- Personal emergency response systems and devices
Talk to your senior loved one about meeting with an elder care attorney. As an estate planning and elder law firm, we can help them create important estate planning documents, including a will and/or trust, a power of attorney to manage legal and financial issues, as well as documents that outline their choices for medical care and end-of-life services. We can also help arrange their assets to protect them from future nursing home costs and qualify them for MassHealth assistance.
We offer a free, initial consultation. Call us today at 617. 299-6976 or send an email to mkarr@maheritagelawcenter.com to schedule an appointment.
