Your Next Steps/Resources:⠀
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Conversation Starter- What are your parent’s goals for later in life? You’ll want to understand their expectations of where they want to live, how much they expected you to help them, making sure their wills are updated (remember- as tough as these conversations are to have, it doesn’t mean it will for sure happen. You are only making an emergency plan). ✅✅⠀
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Paperwork- POA/Medical Proxy- If you parents had multiple children, discuss which children should handle different responsibility and how the other siblings can support. 😎😎⠀
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Caregiver Budget- Emergencies happen. Or you might need to travel immediately to see your parent. You never know when you will need to come out of pocket for your parents. I’ve heard recommendations from a few hundred to a few thousands. However much you decide to put aside, reserve it for that rainy day.
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Don’t feel guilty- ⠀
Many children feel guilty. According to Family Caregiver Alliance National Center on Caregiving, 57% of those caring for elderly parents “reporting feeling guilty.” I’ve been there. ⠀
I felt so guilty when I arranged rides to doctors apppointments for my mom, but then found out that her ride never went back to pick her up and she was sitting, waiting for 2 hrs for a ride to get home. Or that I should have saw the signs of her condition earlier so she could have lived a normal independent life instead of one in a long term care facility. Don’t focus on those things, focus on how you can help your loved one now! ☺ Now is the important time and what matters! ❤
