Key Things Every Child With Elderly Parents Should Know
Part Two
Don't Wait For A Crisis To Happen
Health
Family discussion
Discussing your parent’s changing needs with them as they age will bring comfort and peace of mind, as you will have a plan in place, which will give you a head start on how to commence looking into the various needs of your elderly parent.
Planning in advance
Establishing a care plan timeously for your loved one.
This could be by doing research into the costs of Care at home versus moving to a retirement village where medical professionals are on site, as well as a frail care facility on the premises. Doing research online and visiting various care homes in your vicinity will give you an idea of costs, how the retirement village is run, and what the retirement village can offer your parents. Whether the retirement village would be suitable, or whether your parents will be better off remaining in their own home with Care at home. Retirement villages often have waiting lists regarding intake, which make it a good idea to commence planning at an early stage rather than waiting.
Behavior
Observing changes in elderly parent’s behavior such as confusion, extreme anxiety, and weight loss/weight gain may be signs of early onset Dementia, or that medically something else is going on health wise.
Health check
A thorough annual general health check up with a medical professional who has an interest in Geriatric care can be helpful in the early diagnoses and treatment.
Early assessment of your elderly parent is the key to diagnoses and treatment. Assessment and treatment will give you peace of mind in taking the next step forward in creating a safe space for your elderly parent.
Medication
An annual medication review is vital.
This is to ensure that the appropriate medication is being prescribed and dispensed, as medically things may change over time with regards to your parent’s health, and medical needs.
Illness or Hospitalisation
Medical Aid
Being able to access your elderly parent’s Medical Aid card and membership number will speed up the process of care and/or hospitalization if required. It’s important to know which medical plan your parents are subscribed too, as Medical Aid Plans specify certain types of cover with regards to procedures, medical practioners and hospitalization.
The Medical Aid service provider will direct you and your parent’s to the correct medical facility, and will offer advice regarding the cost of procedures which your parent’s may require. It would be prudent to seek the advice of your parents Medical Aid service provider before any treatment or hospitalization, (unless it’s an emergency) in order not to be landed with a bill of many thousands of Rands, which you may incur without the advice and guidance of the Medical Aid Provider.
Power of Attorney
Establishing POA (power of attorney) with your other parent in order for them to speak on behalf of their spouse, or a nominated trusted family member is important.
The POA will be required in order to be able to deal with your elderly parent’s bank, lawyer, financial investment team, as well as legal and medical matters. Once the POA has been established this will make dealing with all matters legal and financial an easier process to navigate.
Finances and bank cards
It’s important for a nominated trusted family member to have access to financials/bank cards.
This is in order to be in a position to pay your parents bills if necessary, should the need arise if your parent becomes incapacitated, or falls ill and is hospitalized.
Important Documents
Make sure you know where your parent’s relevant documents are safely filed and stored.
Being granted permission by your parent’s, should the need arise for you to be able to access these documents will make it an easier process to deal with the relevant organizations when the time comes to do so. Documents such as such as a Will, financial/bank documents, original Title Deeds to your parent’s property, medical aid card, organ donor card, ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ instructions (a Living Will).
Making a Will
Winding up an Estate becomes a complicated drawn out exercise if there is no Will, and this is the reason why it is vital to have an up to date Will in place in order to commence the process of winding up your parent’s Estate.
If your parents do not have a valid Will in place, discuss the importance of their Will and the repercussions of not having a valid Will. If a Will is required arrange for your parents to visit a reputable law firm to have a Will drawn up in order for your parent’s to finalize their wishes.
Communication
Having that all important significant conversation with your parents
We are all mortal and need to make plans for our death in order to make our wishes known to our family.
Initiating a tender gentle conversation with your parents is important in establishing this. What your parents wished for a few years ago may well have changed as your parents age. This significant conversation may take time and should never be rushed.
With the end in mind
Should your parents have made the decision to donate their organs to science a donor card will have been provided in the name of your parent. Another important document is a Living Will, or a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order, which will have been documented.
Having a Living Will can spare the family from making this extremely emotional choice should the time come to do so. When the time arrives to make such decisions you will be prepared, and you will be respecting the wishes of your parent.