Have you enjoyed the holidays this year with all your loved ones? Are you finding it hard to believe that the end of the year is almost here? As you look back on your year, have you had any personal health changes, occurrences of falling or more fatigue than usual. Are you concerned? Have you thought about long-term care planning, including talking with your loved ones about it?
Did you know that for most families, long-term planning is a subject that is mostly avoided? No one wants to think about a future when they or someone they love are no longer able to care for themselves. However, it is a subject of critical importance. By thinking about long-term care early, before a crisis occurs, you will be able to share with your family and others what you want to happen if you become incapacitated. In addition, you and your family will have peace of mind from being able to work with an experienced Florida elder law attorney to ensure your lifetime of savings is protected from nursing home bills.
How do you begin the conversation about long-term care? In our office we find most of our clients have questions and we understand because long-term planning can be complicated. We would like to share an end of the year long-term care planning checklist that you may use as you prepare to meet with a Florida elder law attorney.
- Do you live in your own home?
- Do you have any mobility issues within your home?
- Is your home equipped for you to age in place?
- If you have a fall, do you have a life alert or alarm system in place to help you?
- Have you had any changes to your doctors or your medications?
- Are your doctors covered by your insurance?
- Do you have any new health care concerns that have come up over the past year?
- Do you have an active and strong local support system?
- How is your mental health?
- Is your family supportive, nearby and available to assist you?
- Is your Florida estate plan up to date?
- Do you know if you are able to live comfortably off your monthly income?
- Do you have long-term care insurance?
- If necessary, would you be able to afford to pay for a nursing home bill out of pocket?
- Have you worked with an experienced Florida elder law attorney to create a plan for long-term care?
We know and agree that long-term planning can be a difficult conversation to have, but it is critical. If you feel uncertain about your future, this planning can help alleviate that. When you plan for your long-term care, you will benefit from the peace of mind that comes with your planning.
Our office can help guide a family through long-term care planning for aging parents and loved ones. At David H. Jacoby Elder Law Advocate, P. A., we are focused on providing thorough, ethical, and timely solutions for our clients and their loved ones. We encourage you to contact us and schedule a meeting with us.