By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney
Believe me, I totally get it. Most children do not want to butt into the private lives of their parents. Additionally, even when problems begin to exist, both parents and children are often in denial. The problem is that everyone ages, and as they do they lose the ability to do the things that they were once able to do before. This can include taking care of themselves or their spouse.
The good news is that there are actually things you can do to determine if your parents need help. Additionally, there are things you can do to actually help your parents when they need it. But let’s not get the cart before the horse here. Below are ways that you can determine if you need to provide your parents with some help. Additionally, you will see suggestions on things that you can do that will specifically help your parents.
The 5 Biggest Signs
Often, ill-health can escalate quickly with elderly people. This can often catch children off guard and make it difficult for them to properly care for their parents. For these reasons, here is a list of the five biggest signs that your parent or parents need your help immediately. These signs are:
- They begin displaying uncertainty and confusion when they are doing tasks that are simple and familiar;
- They have begun to receive calls from collections, late payment notices in the mail, or are receiving notices from their Bank about their accounts being overdrawn;
- They are exhibiting poor personal hygiene, including disheveled clothing, or an unclean, cluttered house;
- They are forgetful of important appointments, or of people, events, or tasks they are supposed to complete such as taking medications;
- They appear unhealthy including significant weight loss or other apparent health issues.
While there is no one specific indication that can let you know that your parents need your immediate help, an accumulation of any of these particular items should raise an alarm. When this occurs it’s time for you to talk with your parents about the situation and what should be done. There are many options available that can provide help to your parents. These include you helping them individually, or providing in-home health care, or helping your parents move into a retirement community or Senior Living Community. Regardless of the option, you need to act immediately to make sure that your parents are protected and safe.
The Critical Issue
As we stated above in an ideal world everything would be done the way it’s supposed to. However, this is not always the case. The most critical thing that you can determine for your parents is whether they have completed at least a basic estate plan. This would include a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, a living will, and a health care power of attorney.
These documents provide your parents with the ability to make a plan about who their property, money, and assets will be distributed to after they die. However more importantly, these documents give your parents the ability to choose individuals who can provide care for them and make decisions for them if they suddenly become unable to do this for themselves. This would include the powers of attorney. It is our opinion that these documents have a much more critical influence on the lives of your parents while they are alive and as a result are the most important estate planning documents they can have.
If your parents do not have these basic estate planning documents you should strongly encourage them to get these documents. The most important thing is that you not wait too long. If your parents become unable to make decisions for themselves either because of a mental or a physical impairment, it may be too late to accomplish and complete these documents.
ENLIST AN IDAHO ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU
When it comes to estate planning or probate you should never try to do it alone. If you have questions for yourself or for your family and loved ones, we can help. Call us toll free at 877-232-6101 or 208-232-6101 for a consultation with Lane Erickson and the Racine Olson team of Estate Planning attorneys in Idaho. You can also email Lane Erickson directly at lve@racinelaw.net. We will answer your questions and will help you solve your Idaho Estate Planning problems.