Caring for an Elderly Relative: Where to Begin
It’s important to understand the legal and financial considerations of caring for an elderly relative.
As Americans live increasingly longer lives, many require ongoing, long-term care. This care often falls to grown children -- men and women who are in their forties, fifties, and sixties and busy with careers or perhaps children of their own. Getting caught in this care-giving “sandwich” -- growing children on one side, aging parents on the other -- can be an emotional and financial burden, especially if you don’t know where to begin or how to get help.
First, you'll need to consider some legal and financial matters. To provide good care for an elder relative, it may be necessary to deal with care facilities, insurance, powers of attorney, and more.
Figuring Out What Needs to Be Done
Following is a checklist to help you determine what your relative may need. Don't let it overwhelm you. Simply use it to make your own list of things to do or to learn more about, if necessary. Then you'll be in a better position to ask others to help with both discrete and long-term tasks.
Type of Care Needed
To determine the types of care your relative may require, ask yourself these questions:
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