When it comes time to prepare for your parent’s long-term care, making sense of all their options and what they can afford can be stressful. If they have a long-term care insurance plan, it adds extra complication. How do you make sense of a policy you didn’t buy?
Cause for concern when your elderly parent’s behavior seems off
The decision to put your mom in a nursing home was likely a hard one. It was difficult to come to terms with the fact that the woman who raised you can no longer care for herself. It was even more challenging to entrust a total stranger with her care. In addition, the cost of her residence at such a facility represents a considerable financial burden. But you want what’s best for your loved one’s health and wellbeing, so you made those tough choices.
Points to Discuss with Your Aging Parent
Your parent is getting on in age, but you don't have a clear idea if there is a plan in place for their care. It is a difficult topic to broach; no one wants to talk about death and the financial realities that come with aging. Instead of having a proactive conversation early in a parent's aging process most families have a reactive discussion under high levels of stress and emotions while their parent is experiencing an adverse health event. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has reported that 85 percent of time long-term care decisions are made during a medical crisis. The message is clear, be proactive and start discussing the important financial questions with your parent.
The following is an urgent message that could impact you or a loved one.
On September 18, 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amended the rules regarding eligibility for VA pension. These new rules have drastically changed VA pension planning. VA pension is a monthly cash benefit available to wartime Veterans or surviving spouses of wartime Veterans who have limited income and assets and are in need of care.
