Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care - Caring, planning for aging parents
By Janet Taylor
 Do you know your loved ones' financial status and what their benefits are? What about their preferences
for long-term health care or their wishes for end of life? Do you know if they have a will, health care proxy, any trust, or specific plans for financing their care?
The best way to begin the long-term care planning process is to open up and have a frank discussion about these key areas of concern with your loved one. This can be a very difficult thing to do and often times,
we put off discussing this sensitive topic until it is obvious to everyone that it is absolutely necessary. This, however, is not a good idea.
You may avoid potential problems and be in a good position to deal with later needs by understanding your loved ones' situation now. Discussing the "what
-ifs" ahead of time and working to establish good family relations will make it easier to deal with issues during the difficult and stressful times of a crisis.
Those that delay are forced to make rushed decisions, without the benefit of thoroughly researching the options, and often times, without the input of the most important person - your loved one.
Trust that you are doing your loved one a favor by broaching the topic. An upcoming PBS special, "Caring For Your Parents," on WCNY-Syracuse will air
at 10 p.m. April 2 or 2 p.m. April 6. It is a heartwarming story of the experiences of five caregivers and the events encountered while dealing with
caring for their parents. It tells of the challenges, successes and failures in their quests to keep them living in their own home. One of the most profound
messages of this program is that anything is possible through love. Immediately after the 90-minute broadcast, a half-hour panel discussion
moderated by Dr. Art Ulene will focus on how to start the conversation on long-term care planning with family members.
You will need to do some research so you're comfortable talking about the
topics and have accurate information to assist in the long-term care planning. Being informed about the issues will make it much easier to discuss them with
your parents and other family members. There are many resources online and at your local library or bookstore to start you off with the process. But
before major decisions are made and put in writing, you may need to consult an elder care lawyer to thoroughly investigate the person's unique situation.
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