Recently, health experts in the state of Florida issued a statement that seniors should start making plans for their long term care well before it is needed. The statement said that this is the best way to ensure that they are able to get the care that they need and keep their costs under control at the same time.
A small study out of Florida revealed that about 90 percent of senior care planning is done in crisis mode. In other words, senior care is not something that people think about until it is critically necessary for the safety of the elderly individual in need.
The big advantage of planning ahead is that it opens up options that might not otherwise be available. Being able to go over all of your options without time restraints makes this a lot less stressful and provides your family with a better overall care experience. It also helps you prepare for the bumps that you’ll inevitably face over time.
But if you haven’t planned ahead, you might end up being stuck with a type of care that isn’t ideal. There are long waitlists, systems in place, and potentially income or financial requirements that must be met for many types of senior care. If you’re not prepared ahead of time, it can feel like you are bogged down and unable to give your loved one the care and attention that they deserve.
Unfortunately, this is the reality that many people find themselves in daily when looking for care for family.
So, where do you start?
Planning ahead like this can be quite difficult if you’re not sure where to start. The best place to start tends to be with a doctor who is familiar with your loved one. They will have a better idea of what the long term prognosis for their health is and give you an expert idea of what kind of care will be needed to support any needs that might be present.
Identify the needs that are present, and then figure out how to meet them. Knowing what care services are present in your community is a good way to do this. If you’re not sure what in-home care covers, give a local care service and ask. If you’re not sure how much the monthly rate is for the top nursing home in your community, check out their website. Start small with things like this, well before you need to act in crisis mode. The vast majority of care services are happy to help answer your questions.
We know that this can be a scary process. Here at Paradise In-Home Care, we want to make that scary process as easy and friendly as possible. We offer a free consultation service designed to answer your questions in a no pressure setting. Giving back to our community is important to us, and this is one way that we attempt to do so.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Give us a call and start the conversation long before it gets to that point.
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