| y"> | | | | make it easy to identify the important from the not |
| As your parents go into their retirement years, you | | | | so important. Make sure you have special folders |
| want to make sure their lives are as comfortable as | | | | made for all medical, financial, and legal information. |
| possible without putting undue stress burdening you | | | | 3. Arrange to have meetings with the important |
| with responsibilities, which do not fit in with your | | | | advisors in your loved ones life. These can include |
| current life. By taking the time to talk with your | | | | financial advisers, bankers, lawyers, insurance reps, |
| loved ones and discussing their future needs you will | | | | doctors, dentists, optometrists. It is important for |
| be much better prepared to deal with the tasks | | | | you to be informed in order to ensure their financial |
| required of you without the added weight of | | | | obligations are taken care of. |
| emotional stress. A good first step is to openly | | | | 4. If your parents are on any sort of medication |
| discuss their current plans or if they have started. | | | | make, sure, the medication is clearly marked and time |
| Find out what their preferences for long- term care is | | | | dated to ensure they are taking the right dosage. It |
| and let them know you are there to help them to | | | | is very easy to get confused as to what has been |
| sort through all the available options and choices. | | | | taken and how much when more than one |
| Discussing financial matters with family members is | | | | medication is involved. |
| always a difficult and uncomfortable process but it is | | | | 5. Understand the necessity for Senior Home Safety |
| a very important step to take if you want to ensure | | | | inspections. Take the time to review and make the |
| the successful implementation of Care Giving needs in | | | | necessary changes to the home to make it as safe |
| their later years. You have to be able to identify | | | | as possible. An ounce of prevention is always the |
| what their needs will be, the costs involved, and who | | | | rule! |
| will pay for it. | | | | 6. Have a notebook with important contacts (in large |
| To make it easier to plan and prepare for the future | | | | print) readily available. Include the names of friends, |
| here are a few easy steps you can do to start the | | | | family members, Doctor, Hospital, Ambulance, |
| process. | | | | Pharmacy, Fire Department, and Police Services. |
| 1. Prepare a list of varying levels of options ranging | | | | Include a place for making notes of things they think |
| from In-Home Care, Assisted Living, and Nursing | | | | they need so they do not have to try to remember. |
| Homes. Talk about where they would like to live and | | | | 7. Have your parents complete the Government of |
| what is important to them when they can no longer | | | | Canada Substitute Decision Maker Card to carry in |
| live alone. When preparing this list include expenses | | | | their wallet. You can get a free download copy of it |
| and services offered by each. Sometimes just looking | | | | at Ontario Home Care assist. This card is important in |
| clearly at it on paper will help to simplify the decision | | | | case of memory loss. This will inform the their Doctor |
| making process. | | | | or Care Giver who to contact and who is responsible |
| 2. Help your parents to manage the details in their life. | | | | for making decisions on behalf of your parent if they |
| If they do not have a good organizational system in | | | | should no longer be able to make that decision. |
| place create some simple color-coded file system to | | | | |