Life Event: Care for an Aging Relative

Most people spend the first two decades of their life being cared for by a blood or adoptive relative. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles play a part in raising children. What happens when the tables are turned, though, and they're the ones who need to be cared for? Watching loved ones age is never easy. Worse, there are a host of new things that have to be learned and decided. Often the burden falls on the younger generations to help provide care and advice.

Make sure that when the time comes you'll know what to do when it's your turn to be the caregiver.

Living Arrangements

• In deciding where your relative is going to live, first determine the level of care they require.
• Next determine if your relative needs short-term or long-term care.
• Get all your frequently asked questions about nursing homes answered.
• Search for and compare nursing homes.
• Find out more about Assisted Living Facilities to determine if they would be right for your relative.
• Get the facts about adult day care.
• Get the facts about continuing care retirement communities.
• Get the facts about the elderly nutrition program.
• Understand how the state inspects and licenses facilities.
• Know what you need in order to prevent your loved one from becoming a victim of nursing home abuse.

Medical Arrangements

• Get the facts about a durable power of attorney for health care.
• Understand the issues with Medicare or Medicaid.
• Understand how long-term care insurance works.
• Get the facts when shopping for long-term care insurance.

Important Documents

• Find out everything you need to know about wills.
• Find out everything you need to know about trusts and estates.
• Get the facts about driver's licenses and elderly drivers.
• Get the facts on Guardianship and Conservatorship.
• Explore the alternatives to guardianship which can be less restrictive.

Financial Considerations

• Get the facts on Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program through the IRS.
• Understand the basics about reverse mortgages and how they can hurt or help.
• Know your rights regarding employment leave under the Family Medical Leave Act.
• Obtain Powers of Attorney for dealing with bank accounts, 401K, and retirement funds.

Scams and Frauds to Guard Against

• Anyone can be a victim of consumer fraud, but the elderly are often specially targeted.
• Identity theft is an epidemic and you need to watch out for not only your own identity but also those of elders under your care.
• Get the facts on invasion of privacy.
• Find out how to avoid home repair scams.

More Information and Help

• Know what you need to about Elder Law.
• The government provides information on local resources for elders and those caring for them.