In “When Dad Can’t Live Alone”, a sad but brutally honest article in the December 21 edition of the Wall Street Journal, writer Kelly Greene describes how many adults visiting elderly parents over the holidays will discover that advancing age has made one or both parents no longer able to safely care for themselves.
The article details how many families go into “crisis mode’ when they discover their aging parents can no longer take care of their daily needs, either as a result of cognitive or a general health decline.
This crisis mode results in rushed and uninformed decisions about what to do next: change doctors, move into an assisted living or nursing home facility, and become a guardian or power of attorney for one or both parents.
The article also talks about the mistakes that are made when these decisions are uninformed.
We don’t have all of the answers, but if you live in Virginia and the possibility of moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home is one of the solutions being considered, call or email us (540-985-0098 or mspencer@frithlawfirm.com) and we can provide you with a free copy of our book, “A Consumer’s Guide to Long Term Care Choices in Virginia.”
The book provides you with an explanation the differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It also contains a list of questions to ask the admission representatives to enable you to make the best decision for you loved one.
These issues and decisions are important, and we can help you be informed when you must make a difficult decision for a family member.