Once again, a whole new year is in front of us. What will the new year hold? No matter what this year brings, you can be more prepared by having these 5 conversations this year.
5 Conversations to Have with Your Family This Year
1. What are your family goals for the coming year?
The New Year is a time to reflect on the last year and plan for the coming year. It’s the perfect excuse to gather your family and have planning conversations. Making a list of your goals and your family’s goals for the year can provide a framework for conversations and a launching point for a year of productivity and change. Examples of family goals may include downsizing, researching long-term care communities, or even just planning on spending more time together, making up for lost time in 2020.
2. What kind of care does your family need to consider in the next year?
2020 was wrought with change, and maybe your family is now considering what the future looks like. Will the year ahead include a move to senior living? If so, what kind of care services are needed? Does the senior living community need to offer a continuum of care services ranging from independent living to assisted living and memory care? Consider your potential care needs now before they become stressful decisions made in an emergency.
3. How will the family pay for any expected or unexpected care services?
Long-term care can be expensive. What needs to happen to pay for care services? Will a house need to be sold? Will the family pitch in for care costs? The financial impact of senior care can be stressful, but it does not have to be. There are various ways for families to pay for senior care, and when planned for and spoken about openly, families are finding senior care fits into their budgets.
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4. Are end of life wishes documented and made known to family members?
This one may be the toughest conversation to have, but it may also be the most important. Because the end of life care and wishes are incredibly personal, it may feel like an intrusion of privacy to talk about openly. However, speaking openly can save confusion, hurt feelings, time, and even money in the future.
5. Is it still safe for loved ones to drive?
Many adult children are concerned about their parents’ safety behind the wheel, and many seniors feel unsafe driving. Driving is an indicator of independence, and it is not easy to give up. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 500 senior drivers are injured in accidents daily. Having an open conversation about safety behind the wheel now can save money, time, and stress down the road. If it is decided that some family members should not be driving, discuss transportation options so that no one feels isolated. Split up errands or consider paying for transportation to ensure everyone can get where they need to go.
5 Tips for Having Tough Conversations
Tough conversations are, well…tough. They are difficult and awkward and messy – but also totally necessary. Here are five ways you can navigate the tough conversations with your family this year.
1. Tackle the tough topics sooner rather than later
Whether you are an adult child concerned about your parent’s future or a parent wanting to make your wishes known, having these conversations now when everyone is healthy and thinking rationally can help ease stress in crisis. If and when an emergency strikes, families can fall back on these conversations to take action. The New Year is the perfect time to have these conversations, outline the year ahead, take stock of the necessary documents, and plan for a more unpredictable time.
2. Do your research
Having names and places takes away part of the unknown and can bring comfort and security to families navigating a new chapter. Before calling a family meeting, do your research. Take the time to gather information from local long-term care communities, retirement communities, and area agencies on aging. If you are considering a move to senior living this year, take the time to think about what kind of care you want that community to offer and what kind of amenities you want in your new home. You could even bring brochures from a couple of local communities.
3. Speak openly about financial issues
Paying for long-term care can be stressful. Does the family have savings or long-term care insurance that can help? What about Medicaid or veteran’s benefits? It’s important to know how the family will cover care costs in advance of needing care. This can bring the entire family peace of mind knowing that the financial pieces are in place should unexpected expenses arise.
4. Do not overlook end of life care
This may be the toughest part of an already tough conversation. For adult children having this conversation can seem callous, and for parents discussing this with their children, it may be dismissed. The reality is that end of life is part of life, and planning accordingly can save time, money, stress, and grief.
5. Start and end the conversation on a positive and caring note
It is important to remember the ‘why’ behind this conversation. You are having these tough conversations because you love your family. You want everyone to be as prepared for the year ahead as possible. Start and end your conversation letting your family know that you love them and care about their future.
What conversations do you need to have with loved ones this year? We’d love to hear from you. Please share your comments with us in the space below.
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