With increasing age, seniors and their families are faced with several challenging decisions and tasks. These decisions usually involve what kind of care is needed to deal with growing physical and mental decline. Whether they prefer to stay at home and receive home care, or move to an assisted living community. Seniors must also decide how much involvement they will allow family members to have in these decisions.
Older adults will also have to make lifestyle choices about how they would like to carry out their final years.
People deal with the prospect of aging and death in different ways. Here are some suggestions for how to make these significant decisions less stressful for everyone involved.
- Open flow of communication
- Broach the subject of care early
- Involve a doctor or health care professional
- Keep records
- Construct and implement a plan
Open Flow of Communication
This is extremely important. Establishing an open line of communication early on, is key for effective decision making. It is beneficial to correspond will all family members to get an idea of their intended level of involvement. This will paint a clearer picture of how much help can be expected and what kind of assistance will be needed.
Broach the Subject of Care Early
In congruence with opening lines of communication as soon as possible, it is a good idea to talk about care options at an early stage as well. Waiting to make a decision until the event of an emergency can be detrimental to the whole situation.
One approach is to have a family meeting. Invite all family members that want to be involved and hold the meeting at a location that is comfortable for your loved one.
Addressing this subject early can help extend longevity and improve quality of life for seniors in their later years.
Involve a Doctor or Health Care Professional
Information and suggestions about care for seniors can seem more credible when coming from a licensed professional. Find someone that is comfortable discussing care options with your loved one, and that your loved one is receptive to.
Involving a doctor or a trusted health care professional can help get the process moving, allowing for better preparation to tackle the situation in the most practical and effective manner.
Keep Records
Taking notes and keeping records of all communication and decisions can be very helpful for remembering the wishes and contributions for all involved. This will help eliminate repeated conversations and allow you to refer to previous decisions and conclusions easily.
There is also the matter of other records seniors will need to take care of regrading end of life, like wills, power of attorney, living trusts, and other financial obligations. It is recommended to enlist the services of a lawyer to ensure all paperwork is handled correctly.
Construct and Implement a Plan
Once an approach has been decided on, the next step is to make a practical plan for the level of care that is needed.
Affinity Health is a professional home care service that with customized options and a care plan for your loved one. The qualified case managers and caregivers will help you come up with a detailed plan that is fully customized to your unique care situation.
