There are a lot of things that you are expected to know about the care of an elder loved one. If you’re new to this part of the aging process, that can be an overwhelming thought. You’re expected to know so many things, but odds are, no one has sat you down and gone over these things. Things like insurance, caregiver contracts, elder laws, and more are extremely complex things, and people can spend a lifetime studying them, and not have everything completely mastered. It is not realistic that you will automatically know everything that there is to know about these aspects of elder care.
The following list is not comprehensive, but it will certainly get you pointed in the right direction when it comes to the knowledge that you will need to provide great care for a loved one. Keep in mind that this is just an introduction to these topics, and a brief one at that. However, my hope is that this list will give you a starting point so that you can be slightly more educated on some of those obscure topics that you need to know, but have not ever been taught.
Living Will
A living will is a legal document that dictates how senior care will be applied to someone who is unable to advocate for themselves. This can be a very helpful document for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease, for example. For a living will to be effective, it needs to be finalized before a major medical issue occurs. If you have an older loved one who is in good health, this can be a tough conversation to have, but it is an important one. It is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your loved one gets the care and treatment that they want, and are not dependent on the decisions of others.
Power of Attorney
When a loved one can no longer care for themselves or make adequate decisions for themselves, power of attorney can be legally granted to a representative. This person is usually a family member, but does not necessarily need to be so. The person who has power of attorney becomes responsible for medical decisions, takes on financial responsibility, and otherwise does all of the legal and formal things that the person in need would have done. Power of attorney is not a position that should be taken lightly. This is someone that should know what is needed and desired by the person in need, and should be trustworthy so that they are making decisions for the good of that person, and not themselves.
Standard of Care
Elder laws are in place for a reason. They are meant to help protect those that are vulnerable. One of those laws that you might not be aware of–but makes perfect sense–is the standard of care law. Each state has a different name for this law, but they all point to the fact that elderly individuals deserve and are entitled to a certain standard of care. In California, this law also stresses that seniors should not be neglected. The bottom line is that everyone deserves high quality care. If you believe that your family member is not getting the assistance that they deserve, you have legal protections to ensure that help is given.
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