Options that work best for you, your family, and, most importantly, your parents.
Written by: Ann Vaeth
There are important steps you can take to help your aging parents find living and health care assistance, as well as to secure financing for the cost of the care. There are several resources that can help them grow old gracefully, either in their existing home or in a facility, along with multiple options for financing the cost of the care.
Living options
Living alone
Depending on the independence of your parents, living alone in their existing house may be an option. You may need to make several modifications however to make their home environmentally safe and suitable for an aging person. For instance, important safety features such as a first-floor bathroom, grab bars in hallways in bathrooms, and an emergency response system may be necessary (and expensive).
If your parent requires assistance with meals or chores, there are several services which can provide support, such as Meals on Wheels, which are free for anyone over 60.
You can also consider an in-home aide if your parent needs additional personal assistance.
Living with Family
Some families choose to move an aging parent into their own home. If you can do this with minimal conflict, this can be beneficial as it avoids having to maintain a second home and of course can be less expensive. If your parent has dementia or other health issues, adult day care can be helpful, as it allows them to socialize with other adults.
Assisted living
If your parents are independent and can care for themselves, they may be eligible to enter a continuing-care retirement community, where they can rent (or purchase) an apartment and be eligible for nursing care, if it becomes necessary. Consider purchasing long-term care insurance, which can help pay for nursing home costs or the cost of an in-home aide.
Nursing home
If your parents need more extensive care and require a nursing home, research the options extensively. You may need to reserve a space far in advance, as waiting lists are often long at popular facilities. The government provides limited financial assistance for families paying for nursing home care. Financing long-term care can be a tremendous challenge for many adults.
Financing long-term care
Medicarewill only pay the full cost of professional help if a physician certifies that your parent requires nursing care and if the services are provided by a Medicare-certified home health care agency. Medicare will only pay for nursing home care for the short-term only, with benefits restricted to low-income individuals with limited assets.
Youcan offset some of these costs when you claim a federal tax credit up to $3,000 off the cost of in-home care or day care. You can also use a flexible spending account, which helps your pay for a certain amount of covered expenses with pretax dollars.
With the cost of elderly care continually on the rise, financial planning can be an important step in providing adequate support for your parents’ future well-being.
Next Steps
If applicable, talk to your parents about their wants and needs for their next step of care. Include siblings or other important loved ones in the conversations and make sure that there are clear lines of communications prior to initiating any next steps and plans.
Talk to your financial advisors about what the best course of action. Consider all options that make sense for you and your family, especially keeping in mind the best interest of your parents’ health and happiness.
Give us a call with any questions!
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This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.
This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC
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