Mom or Dad Need Long-Term Health Care - Start with a Family Meeting
It can come up fast. Mom or Dad's health declines, they have a fall, or they are suffering from dementia and need long-term health care. Now what? A family meeting is the first step.


Unfortunately, most people don't think about getting older - it just happens. When families are caught off guard about a parent's declining health, mobility, and cognitive decline, it can create a family crisis unless there was a plan or discussion years prior.
The first thing is to get everyone together and have a meeting. Before the meeting, someone should see if there has been planning put in place. Things like power-of-attorney, Long-Term Care Insurance, and living wills will be helpful.
Understanding Reduces Family Conflict
Siblings need to understand everyone has their own responsibilities, including careers and jobs, that must be balanced with any needs a parent may require. Some occupations may make it harder to take time off than others. Understanding will reduce sibling conflict, which is common when a family is in a crisis.
Caregiving is demanding on family caregivers, and professional care is costly, and the costs are rising every year. When a parent needs care, it will affect everyone in the family, and that's why caregiver family meetings are so important.
Family Meeting Suggestions
The website 'Daily Caring' offers these meeting suggestions - Caregiver Family Meetings: 5 Keys to Success – DailyCaring
LTC NEWS has a guide that helps answer the question "now what?" when a loved one requires care. Most people want to stay in their homes, so in-home is often preferable - Finding Quality In-Home Care | LTC News
If your loved one has an LTC Insurance policy LTC NEWS can be helpful by offering free - no-obligation claim's processing and care coordination - even helping you find caregivers and facilities whether or not you have an LTC policy - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Prepared for Your Aging?
Take a few minutes thinking about if you are prepared for the future costs and burdens of your aging and changing health. Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance keeps you in control, giving you your choice of quality care options in the setting you desire.
Safeguard income and assets and ease family stress by adding an LTC Insurance policy to your retirement plan. The best time to obtain coverage is when you are in your 40s or 50s.
Seek help from a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you find the best coverage at the best value - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.
About the Author
An LTC News author focusing on long-term care and aging.
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James Kelly
Contributor since August 21st, 2017
Editor's Note
You can't ignore getting older. Your health and body are not like it was 25 years ago. The decline in health, body, and mind increases the need for help with daily living activities or supervision due to memory loss.
Avoid a family crisis in your family and give your loved ones the time to be family instead of caregivers. The solution is affordable Long-Term Care Insurance. You will have guaranteed tax-free benefits, giving you access to your choice of quality care in the setting you desire.
Available Resources on LTC NEWS
LTC NEWS offers several tools and resources to help you in your research for a planning solution or help your family find the appropriate care for a loved one at the time of crisis.
To help you plan for the future costs and burdens of changing health and aging, LTC NEWS can put together several resources, including:
- The LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator will show you the financial impact of long-term health care where you live. It will also show you state-specific information on tax benefits, care options, rules, and more.
- The Ultimate Long-Term Care Guide is an outstanding read to help you get a good overview of the topic area.
- Compare the major insurance companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance products here - Top Insurers for Long-Term Care Insurance | LTC News.
- A detailed tax guide that includes available tax incentives can be found by reviewing the Long-Term Care Tax Benefits Guide.
Find all the resources on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.
Seek Professional Advice
Experts suggest using a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options available to you and your family. Insurance rates are regulated, so no insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor can give you special deals. However, premiums do vary over 100% between insurance companies for the same coverage.
A specialist who works with the top companies can match your age, health, family history, and other factors and find you the best coverage at the best value. A specialist will save you money, and you will have the peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.
Find Quality Caregivers and Long-Term Care Facilities
If your parent or loved one needs care now - or soon - you will need to find the appropriate care in the right setting depending on their needs.
Take a moment and read -
Get Expert Help Filing an LTC Insurance Claim
LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you, or a loved one complete the claim's process with your Long-Term Care Insurance policy. You can also support finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Benefits of Reverse Mortgages
Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance.
Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, even help with cash flow during your retirement.
Learn more by asking questions to an expert. LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages.
Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.
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You can write a story or ongoing column for LTC NEWS. You can write about many topics, including aging, caregiving, health, lifestyle, retirement planning, and long-term care, to name a few.
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Email your story idea or article: newsroom@ltcnews.com - LTC News Contributors | LTC News
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