Five Reasons Why Families Should Plan for Senior Care Before a Crisis Happens

Why You Should Start Planning Today

Many families don’t think about senior care until the need becomes urgent: a trip to the emergency room, frequent falls, stove burners left on. At that point, you may only have a few days or hours to make decisions that can have a lifelong impact. Those decisions deserve more time than an emergency allows. Planning senior care before a crisis lets you and your loved one make proactive decisions instead of being forced into reactive ones. Here are the top five reasons to start planning now.

Senior Care Planning: The Key Takeaways

• Planning senior care options before aging parents need it gives your parent more say about their future.
• Family discussions about care are easier when they’re part of a long-term planning process.
• Preparing before needs are urgent allows you to learn about options, tour communities and plan financially.
• Advanced planning and preparation make the transition into care a smoother one.

1. It Gives Your Parents a Voice

Planning senior care early gives you more time to understand your parent’s wishes when living at home is no longer a safe option. They may say that being close to family is the most important thing. Or you may be surprised to learn that lifestyle amenities like spa services and restaurant-style dining mean a lot to them. You can then choose the community together.

Having a say can make it easier for aging parents to accept the change when the time comes. If they’re experiencing cognitive decline, early discussions may be the only way to know what they would have wanted once it’s time for memory care.

2. Senior Care Conversations Are Easier Before There’s a Crisis

It can be tempting to avoid family discussions about care because parents often don’t want to talk about it. Naming physical or cognitive changes can stir up strong emotions. However, starting the conversation while your parents are healthy and active is often easier because the stakes are lower.

You’re not pressuring them to make life-altering changes tomorrow or even a month from now. It’s simply proactive preparation for scenarios that may or may not happen. You could even frame the conversation as part of estate planning and include advance directives in the discussion.

3. You Have Time to Explore All Options

Exploring senior care options before your aging parents need them provides more choices and flexibility. You’ll have time to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of senior living and in-home care. You’ll be able to tour senior living communities and let your parents see what daily life can look like in different settings, including independent living, assisted living and memory care.

You can even enjoy lunch and activities together at some communities, so your loved one can get to know residents. And if they really want to see what it’s like, our community offers respite care and short-term stays, so your loved one can experience it without the long-term commitment.

Many communities have waitlists. If you wait until your loved one already needs senior care, you may not be able to get them into the community they would love.

4. It Makes Paying for Care Less Stressful

Understanding the cost of senior care, what it includes, and the payment options can help your family avoid unplanned expenses when you’re already dealing with a health or safety crisis.

Many families learn too late that Medicare and most traditional insurance don't cover long-term care. However, this doesn’t mean the entire cost must come out of your pocket. When you know ahead of time what senior care options your loved one wants, you can start the financial planning. That could mean looking for long-term care insurance, exploring veterans’ benefits or liquidating assets like real estate. Our experienced advisors at The Herrick House can sit down with your family and provide tips for funding assisted living.

5. The Transition Itself Goes More Smoothly

Whether senior care means in-home care or community living, a gradual transition can help your loved one feel ready instead of like their life is being turned upside down. If they already know the community, they may even be excited to make the move. Hiring a professional moving company in advance can make move-in day easier and allow time for a special meal or outing together on your loved one’s big day.

To make the transition even easier, some older adults choose independent living for the upgraded lifestyle before they need care. As a full continuum of care community, we can seamlessly transition your loved one to assisted living or memory care if their needs change.

We’re here to help with the conversations and guide you through senior care planning. Download your Family Decision Toolkit today to get started. We’d also love to share lunch with you and your parents in one of our restaurant-style community dining rooms and show you both what senior living can look like here. Contact us today to schedule a tour.