Taking care of aging parents is a major undertaking, and you’ll need to discuss personal, financial, medical, and real estate issues. The good news is that you can compartmentalize elder and family law issues and approach them one-by-one. Keep in mind that facilitating honest, open discussions between you and your parents will achieve the best results for everyone involved in managing care.

How Do I Prepare for Making Decisions With My Aging Parents?

To begin, you need to understand where your parents are in their plans for future care. While some already have an aging plan in place, others are emotionally unable to process the idea of future health concerns and may put off creating a care plan. Sit down and have an honest conversation with your parents, and ask them a few questions:

• What type of long-term care are you planning for? 
• How do you plan to maintain health and self-reliance?
• Who in the family is available to assist with caregiving?
• Do you have a caregiver in mind?

Where Should My Aging Parents Live?

The most difficult decision in family law is deciding where your aging parent will live. Options include living at home, with a family member, or at an assisted living care center. Ask a health care provider for their opinion, and talk to your parents about their options. Discuss the pros and cons of independent living and assisted living communities. While your parent may want to maintain their independence as long as possible, you need to consider any progressive conditions or diseases that may limit their mobility or accessibility in the future. Research nearby senior living options, and encourage your parents to visit a campus to gauge whether or not it would be a good fit.

How Do I Make Decisions Regarding Aging Parents End-of-Life Care?

End-of-life care decisions are critical and should be made while your parents can still weigh the pros and cons. Discuss estate planning, assigning power of attorney, and medical directives regarding certain conditions with them, and encourage them to speak to a family law attorney to update or create these documents as needed. Ask them to be honest with you about their preferences for future care, funerals, and distribution of assets to keep everyone on the same page and minimize hardship and shock in what will be a difficult time for everyone.

Answering the preceding questions can be emotionally taxing for any family. Partnering with an understanding family law attorney can help you prepare for the legal issues that your aging parents may face. Stayton Law can help. With more than 18 years of experience serving families in the Willamette Valley and Santiam Canyon, OR, areas, their firm can delicately address the issues that matter the most. You can schedule a free consultation by calling (503) 769-7741 or visiting their website.