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The responsibility of finding outside care for an elderly parent or disabled loved one is not an easy task, but careful planning and consultations with specialists can ease the situation.
The first step is to answer three basic questions:
- What level of senior care does your relative need — skilled, intermediate or basic?
- Does the person live alone, with family members, or in a nursing facility?
- What kind of care can the relative afford?
To come up with the answers, consult with the following people:
Family members can ease the burden of making choices and help determine the patient’s emotional, as well as physical, needs. Can responsibilities be shared so that one person doesn’t “burn out” shouldering most of the burden?
Physicians and social workers know how much care is needed. They can also help evaluate the care options.
Senior care accountants can assist in estate planning and provide an analysis of the person’s health insurance coverage and financial situation. It’s important to understand the patient’s rights and responsibilities concerning the filing of insurance claims.
There are many day-to-day tasks involved in the care of an elderly parent, including scheduling and payment of health care and domestic care workers, arranging doctors visits, buying and giving medications, overseeing the patient’s general maintenance and arranging meal services if necessary.
If you need in-home care, you must determine whether to hire a Registered Nurse, a Certified Nursing Assistant, a nursing aide, or a companion. This is often a judgment call based on the physical and emotional needs of the patient.
When choosing a health aide, agency or domestic worker service, check reputations and current references. Don’t forget to ask agencies how they deal with taxes. Some firms consider their workers to be self-employed independent contractors who handle their own tax responsibilities. Others treat them like ordinary employees and take out withholding taxes.
© 2014 Thomson Reuters/Tax & Accounting
