5 Tips for Long Term Care Planning Month

Oftentimes seniors find themselves blindsided by the need for additional care. Consequently, the choice of a senior living community ends up being made by an adult child or family member. Planning in advance can be an incredible gift to your family. Talk to them about any concerns you may have about senior living and what you’d like to see in a community. There are many more options in senior living and levels of care today than ever before. It’s important to know what options are available when the time comes.

5 Tips for Long Term Care Planning

  1. Visualize your ideal senior living lifestyle. Finding the right fit for you means asking yourself these questions – Would you prefer a studio or a companion suite? Do you envision gardening, utilizing walking paths, or reading in the library? Would you like to get involved in a cooking club, explore international cultures, and go on excursions? Do you want your future home to be near friends and family? Not only does a move to a senior living community offer the opportunity to continue things you love, but also allows you to spend less time doing the things you don’t love. All home maintenance like landscaping and housekeeping is taken care of. Take a look at our checklist as you prepare to visit senior living communities here.
  2. Assess your financial picture. Pulling together your finances will help to paint a clear picture of what is available to you. A few things to gather include a monthly and annual income, insurance premiums and other monthly expenses, owned real estate, as well as Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits.
  3. Meet with professional advisors. These include professionals from your elder law attorney who helps prepare your legal documents to your physician who will be able to provide input on the appropriate level of care while understanding your preferences. Commonwealth Senior Living has relationships with all these experts. If you need a recommendation, we are happy to provide them.
  4. Take the time to plan. Just like any decision you make for the future, it’s worth the time and effort to choose the right community and design a plan that makes sense for you. The cost of senior living depends on the size suite you select as the amount of support you require, but ultimately the formula of senior living is different for every family.
  5. Think about what life will be like after a move. Settling in, getting to know people (including caregivers) and starting to feel like you’re at home can take time. Everyone reacts differently. Where one person may feel relief at not having to maintain a big house alone, another might feel a little lost and miss their home, friends, and belongings. However familiar faces can make living in a new place a lot easier. Consider encouraging your family to visit as often as possible, whether it’s in person or virtually!

It’s never too early to start, let us help. For more personalized guidance on approaching long term care planning, reach out to the community nearest you today.