My friend called me this morning to speak about his mother, who needs rehabilitation after surgery.
The day before, another friend called about coordinating care for a family member. Then a stranger called about choosing the best assisted living facility in our area.
Last week, I discussed with a colleague how her mom had just been discharged from a rehab facility after two falls and two hip fractures, one of which occurred during the rehab for the first.
Caring for our parents is not easy and coordinating their care is not a simple task.
I recently read that the average mother will spend 17 years caring for her own children, and 18-19 years caring for her parents.
That’s more time caring for and or coordinating the care for your parents than your own kids. This is now the life we lead – people are living longer and care is available. Coordinating it is complicated. It’s exhausting and emotional, but necessary.
For years, we have met families that felt overwhelmed when it came to selecting long-term health care. So where do you start?
1. Don’t wait for an emergency – start planning now.2. Know your options.3. Have a discussion with your family.4. Discuss everything, including payment arrangements.
You might also want to consider A Consumer’s Guide to Long-Term Care in Virginia, which is our guide to choosing among long-term health care options for a loved one.
You can order your copy through Amazon.com (now available as a Kindle e-book). To request a copy by mail, contact our office manager, Mary Ann Spencer, at mspencer@frithlawfirm.com or (540) 985-0098. To preview the book, download Chapter One and Chapter Two from our website.