Pre-Planning for Senior Care

Planning for the care of a senior loved one well in advance can alleviate stress and create a roadmap for when the time comes.

Identifying the best senior care option for your loved one requires careful planning, delicate conversations, and time. Creating a plan in advance, understanding that circumstances may change over time, can help you create a starting point. Most importantly, pre-planning for senior care gives your loved one an opportunity to express their goals and wishes for the future; wishes that can be incorporated into their care plan. 

Unfortunately, many families do not have a plan in place for the non-medical care of their loved one until there is a sudden decline in physical or mental health or an adverse health event such as a fall or illness. These rapid changes then require an immediate search and plan for in-home care. Planning for senior care in advance can help alleviate stress, better plan for unknowns, and allow your family to execute an action plan that is right for your family and honors your loved one’s goals and wishes. 

Are you ready to start pre-planning? If so, here are 4 things to consider.

Help Your Loved One Create General Planning Documents

Creating a written, documented plan of your senior loved one’s desires for care as they age, and the resources available to support their wishes is critical. Your written plan should include their care preferences, such as a desire to remain at home as long as possible versus assisted living or a nursing home, and what that entails. If your loved one is open to the idea of in-home care in the future, you can also use this documented planning stage as an opportunity to assess the type of characteristics they would like in a caregiver. 

Working through a documented care plan with your loved one reinforces your desire for them to be involved in their own care for as long as possible and encourages them to be engaged so that they can maintain a sense of control over their lives. 

Here are some additional tips for starting the conversation.

Consider Services Designed for Independent Seniors

Pre-planning care for a loved one allows you to learn more about just what is in-home care, what it does and does not entail, and the available resources within your community. As you do your research you will find that there is a wide spectrum of in-home care, from companionship for more independent seniors, to more advanced private duty nursing services, to end-of-life care. 

For example, at Comfort Keepers, we provide many services to help seniors, and other adults, maintain their independence, including light housekeeping, meal prep,  medication management, transportation, safety products, and companionship. Many families find Comfort Keepers during their pre-planning, or know someone who has had a positive experience with Comfort keepers, and trust our services when the need for in-home care arises. 

Learn more about the services provided by Comfort Keepers of the Twin Cities.

Know the Services Available to Family Caregivers

When pre-planning for the care of your senior loved one, together you may decide to take on the future role of family caregiver. If you do decide that becoming a family caregiver is the right choice for you and your loved one, realize that you are not alone and there are resources available to you in the Twin Cities area. 

Taking on the role of family caregiver is challenging and requires you to provide quality care, be present for appointments, manage additional finances, ensure social wellbeing, etc., all while maintaining your own life’s priorities. At Comfort Keepers, we have helped many family caregivers find a sense of balance through our respite care services. Respite care can provide you with short-term relief from caregiving so you can fulfill your own responsibilities or take a break. 

Use Pre-Planning as an Opportunity to Look for Warning Signs

When pre-planning for the care of your loved one, use this opportunity to also evaluate their safety inside and outside of the home, such as decluttering, removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars, and managing where there are stairs Some of the most common warning signs that it may be time for extra care at home include behavioral changes, cognitive decline, physical changes such as a decrease in weight, and other adverse health events. 

It may also be cause for concern if your loved one is unable to safely maintain their home, is forgetting to take medications, showing a decline in hygiene, exhibiting signs of incontinence or is unable to operate a vehicle safely. 

If you are unsure where to start when evaluating the safety of your loved one, check out our “Is It Time for In-Home Care” guide for more detailed advice and tips. 

Comfort Keepers is Here to Help with Any Pre-Planning Questions

Do you have questions about pre-planning care for a senior loved one? At Comfort Keepers, we are always willing to help and talk with you about your concerns for a loved one. To reach a member of our care team, call (651) 796-2540 or complete the form below.