HOLIDAYS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK UP ON AGING PARENTS

The holidays are a traditional time for multiple generations to gather together, and are also a perfect opportunity for adult children to perform a reality check on how their aging parents are doing health-wise as well as assess financial and medical planning issues.

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance provides these tips:

Check your elderly relatives’ home for potential fall hazards. If there is unopened mail and unpaid bills laying around, it may be a sign they are having difficulty coping with everyday living.

Check the pantry and refrigerator to ensure it is well stocked. If a parent has lost weight or there is spoiled food around, this is a sign that they may need some additional help around the house.

Make a list of all your parents’ medications and get the phone numbers of their primary care physicians.

Be sure you have the license numbers of all vehicles in case one is stolen or your parent goes missing.

Talk to your parents about advance health care directives. If they don’t have one, help them find a Personal Family Lawyer® to talk to about creating these and other important estate planning documents.