Legal Considerations for Senior Care at Home in Las Vegas, Southern Highlands and Nearby Areas
Recommendations from experts in senior care at home in Las Vegas and Southern Highlands, NV
Paperwork isn't necessarily fun, but it is necessary. So if your aging loved one is accessing senior care at home or other home care services, it’s important to get their legal affairs in order. The best time to ensure that their documents and finances are in order is right now. At Comfort Keepers, we know that it’s easy to not prioritize financial and legal recordkeeping, but it’s very important to ensure the safety and well-being of your aging loved one. We’ve gathered our best tips from the experts at Comfort Keepers for you and your family to consider. Call us in Las Vegas or the Southern Highlands areas at (702) 425-6932.
Make a plan
Every goal starts with a plan. Often we see our clients create a comprehensive care plan, that even incorporates changes in physical, mental, or emotional health. But when it comes to planning for a financial and legal future, clients may struggle to prepare. When your family chooses senior care at home, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility anywhere in Las Vegas and the surrounding area, it’s time to make a plan for your loved one’s financial and legal future, too. It's all part of sound in home care.
Organize your documents
Gather all of your paperwork in one central location, because the first step to knowing what documents are still needed or decisions you’ll need to make is knowing what has already been accomplished. We recommend creating a central hub for your aging loved one’s records, such as a filing cabinet or accordion file that remains in one place. Documents you should gather include identity documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or passport), financial documents (for checking, savings, investment accounts, and other financial accounts), and real estate documents (mortgages or leases, insurance policies, etc.)
Senior Care at Home Involves Making a Will
Your loved one should make a decision about their will. If your senior family member does not already have a will, you should take this opportunity to help them create one and make those decisions. Your loved one will need to pick which document to use and what’s in it. This is a discussion you’ll want to have as early as possible so that your family can also understand the wishes of your aging loved one while you provide senior care at home.
Your aging loved one might choose an advance health care directive, which helps a senior specify what kind of care services or medical intervention should be provided in the case that they become seriously ill, incapacitated, or unable to communicate. These directives can specify particular facilities or care providers that your aging loved one would prefer or indicate that senior care at home is their preferred mode of care.
Your loved one should consider whether they prefer a living will or a power of attorney for health care. These two documents operate differently, but both can specify who can make decisions on behalf of your loved one, and the scope of what those decisions can be. Both become effective when your loved one can no longer communicate or advocate for themselves.
Learn More About Our Senior Care at Home Services in Las Vegas and Southern Highlands, NV
Here are some helpful resources to help you get informed on legal matters for seniors with regard to home care.
- The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Law and Aging
- The ABA’s Guide to Wills and Estates
- Find a Lawyer tool on the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ website
- The Law Issues for Consumers section of the ABA's website
Always consult a lawyer regarding your family’s specific needs and your senior care at home. Of course, there are many excellent lawyers throughout Las Vegas, NV and Southern Highlands, NV.