If you are attempting to be a caregiver from a distance, this can be a very overwhelming situation and it can even be more daunting than trying to manage it in your own home. Statistics suggest that there is a good chance that you might be a caregiver at some point in the future, and that means knowing how your elder law plan might evolve.
A recent AARP National Alliance for Caregiving study found that over 42 million adults in the United States serve as a caregiver for at least one person aged 50 years or older.
Only 40% of those caregivers are living with the person for whom they are trying to provide care. It can be very difficult to coordinate elder care and advanced needs from far away.
Given the fact that over 80% of caregivers might also have a full time job, this can lead to additional stress. There are a couple of different tips that you can keep in mind when you need to be a caregiver for an elderly loved one. These include:
- Make sure that your loved one has authorized you or someone they trust to act on their behalf through a health care directive and a financial power of attorney.
- Get the financial talk going to identify all relevant documents, such as social security and Medicare cards, life, auto and health insurance and other materials.
- Identify sources of income which can be found on bank or financial statements or tax returns.
- Consider creating a care plan for your loved one so that you know what alternatives are available to you and your loved one in the event that they need further support.
If you need more questions answered about the elder care planning process, finding a lawyer you can turn to for strategy development can be very helpful. Contact our Pasadena, CA estate planning office today.
