This article covers: Assessing needs, Getting Permission, Info to Have on Hand, Things to Know, and Taking Care of Yourself.
Assessing Their Needs
• Does your parent need help with grooming, bathing, or dressing?
• Does your parent need help with housekeeping, shopping, or yard work?
• Does your friend need help planning or preparing meals?
• Is your parent unable to drive or get around on public transportation alone?
• Does your parent need help managing finances and paying bills?
• Does your parent need help making legal and other important decisions?
• Does your parent have trouble functioning at home? Would modifications help?
• Does your parent have trouble with hearing, vision, or memory?
Get Permission
• financial power of attorney to make financial decisions and pay bills
• living will to make life-support decisions
• medical power of attorney to make health care decisions
• durable power of attorney to make legal decisions
• access to safe deposit box
• may choose to be added to deeds and mortgages
• may need to be added to automobile insurance
• know the person's wishes (medical treatments, funeral, finances, etc.)
Information to Have on Hand
• insurance (Medicare / Medicaid number, supplement, other policies)
• doctors (names, phone numbers, and other contact information)
• medical history (medications, allergies, conditions, procedures)
• identification (social security, military ID, driver's license numbers)
• address list (friends, neighbors, family)
• service providers (attorney, financial advisor, clergy, accountant)
• financial (account numbers, checkbook, investments, tax records)
• legal (wills, powers of attorney, health care directive)
• deeds (house, other property, car title, boat title)
• insurance (life, medical, auto, homeowner's)
• household (mortgage, apartment lease, property tax records)
• vital records (birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree)
• final wishes (organ donation, burial, property distribution)
Make Sure that You
• respect your parent's independence, even while taking care of them
• allow your parent to make as many decisions as appropriate
• have reasonable expectations of what your parent can do independently
• talk regularly with your parent about their concerns, desires, and frustrations
• make informed decisions that are in the best interest of your parent's needs
• show compassion while you are trying to be efficient and responsible
Taking Care of Yourself
• recognize when you are getting worn out and need a break
• make use of support groups, family, and other caregivers in your situation
• take regular breaks to do something enjoyable for yourself
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