As parents grow older, we become more involved in their lives. But your involvement should go beyond picking up the groceries and mowing the lawn. It’s time to find out if your parent has the right life care plan.
You say tomato, I say tom-ah-to.
‘Life care plan’ is another way of saying ‘estate plan.’ Either way you say it, estate planning is one of the most important processes you’ll go through.
Estate planning documents don’t just set forth how your parents want their property to be disposed of after death. Documents like a durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and living will dictate how your loved one’s golden years will unfurl.
The right estate planning documents can:
- protect your parent’s assets so they can pay for long-term care or leave an inheritance to their children;
- keep them from having to go through a guardianship or a conservatorship;
- assist in paying for long-term care; and
- provide critical information to medical providers.
But how will you know if your parent’s plans are right?
Talk to them.
Discussing topics like long-term care and death is never easy. However, your parents won’t be around forever. So, sit down and talk with them, go over any estate planning documents they’ve made. If they’d like, make an appointment with an attorney who can tell them whether their plan is still good to go.
Another benefit to talking to your parents? You give them the opportunity to state their wishes regarding medical treatment, end-of-life care, and funeral arrangements. Talking and planning may give them a great sense of relief.
Help them help themselves.
Maybe you have an older parent facing elder law issues. Maybe you are looking ahead to your own future. Either way, it’s important to know what rights and protections are available for senior citizens. Schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys and find out where you stand. Our phone number is 256-251-2137, or you may want to use the Contact Form on our website. We have offices in Anniston and Birmingham and assist clients in communities like Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Irondale, and Calera.
For more information about estate planning, please take a few moments to check out the videos on our website and YouTube channel.