The Basics of Eldercare Planning

"The simple truth about elders is this: they want their lives to be validated, and they do not want to die alone," writes eldercare consultant Joy Loverde in her book, The Complete Eldercare Planner. However, the parallel reality to this truth is that caring for elders is an overwhelming responsibility--an oftentimes tangled maze of financial, medical, personal, legal, and logistical issues. Ultimately, the caregiver will need support as well as some practical guidelines for being able to deal with (and hopefully, enjoy) the experience of caring for an aging loved one. Loverde also notes that in an era when the fastest growing segment of the population is those 80 and older (among which the majority are women), it becomes increasingly important for caregivers, who are themselves one day going to need care, to be informed about eldercare facts.

One important action step that should be accomplished as soon as possible with your elder is to compile a document that will give you and any other caregivers an overview of their health, legal and financial information. The list below is by no means all-inclusive, but provides a useful outline of where to start in preparing this document.

Basic Information
Name, Medicare/Medicaid Number, Social Security Number

Doctors
Name(s), Specialty and address(es)

Contacts
Family, friends, phone numbers (cell phones if possible), addresses, email addresses

Healthcare Providers
Sitters, nurses, helpers, and other helpers

Religious affiliation (if relevant)
Name of church, synagogue or mosque, pastor, rabbi, cleric

Medications
Names, dosage, frequency

Financial Information
Accounts, investments, stocks, sources of income, listing of current bills or payments (amounts, types of bills)

Wishes in terms of burial
Location of family plot, cremation, etc

Insurance Information
Names of insurers, types of insurance, location of policies

Important Documents
Wills (last will and testament and living will), safe deposit box (keys, bank), deeds to property, power of attorney and medical power of attorney, birth certificates, etc.

As your responsibilities increase, there may be other items, or categories you wish to add to this list that specifically address the needs of your elderly loved ones. The main points to keep in mind are:

Stay organized
Update information as changes occur
Make this document accessible any family members or friends who may need this information

The more organized and comprehensive this essential information is, the easier it will be to handle unexpected or emergency situations when they arise. Take your time, work together and come up with a planner or checklist that includes everything that will help facilitate your elder care experience.