Adult Children Taking Care of Aging Parents

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Michelle

What does it mean to be “comfortable” in advanced age? Is it a measure of finances? Familiarity with surroundings? Close proximity to family of friends? Physical well-being? Mental and emotional support? It seems to be all of these things put together according to personal preferences that give a person “comfort” in his/her “golden years.”

In my practice, I often see families struggling to figure out what to do to create a comfortable experience for elder family members. Here are some ideas we at the firm have gathered, and I hope they can help you and your family:

• Identify all of the caregiving resources within your family. Who can provide emotional, physical, mental, and financial support? Realistically consider each member’s ability and availability. Strong family support will help maintain stability in the life of an aging loved one and can be key to preserving his/her dignity, longevity, and vitality.
• Prioritized the needs of your loved one by asking him/her what is important. Do not assume you know what is best. What may be important to you might be less important to your loved one.
• Engage those resources that match the caregiving needs of your loved one. All of your resources do not have to be mobilized all the time. Social welfare professionals have a simple mantra: ” Self-care, self-care.” Recognize that your needs as a caregiver are as important as the needs of the person you are tying to help. If you are not taking are of yourself, you will not be able to take care of someone else. Do not be afraid to confront the fact that you probably cannot “go it alone.” Take time to re-examine your needs as a caregiver and your loved one’s needs at regular intervals over time.
• Discuss these matters with an experienced lawyer, who can memorialize the care taking relationship and make sure that the family is protected. A good lawyer supports you and your family over time by providing personalized service that meets your needs. Your attorney should be part of your family’s support system when helping an aging loved one! Please feel free to call us at The Limbaugh Law Firm (303-622-3781) to discuss how we can help support you and your family through the challenges of life’s transitions.

Posted in Elder Law