What type of insurance or coverage does your loved one
have? Obtain copies of the cards. Does the policy cover
post-acute care? Who is in-network and what would
your co- pay be? Post-acute providers can answer most
of these questions over the phone and help to prevent
financial surprises. Make a list of emergency contact
numbers, current medications and all the physicians &
medical providers that your
loved one sees. Be sure to
keep this updated and keep a
copy with you and on your
loved one's fridge. You'd be
surprised how often you'll
need this and how many
services will need a copy.
Power of Attorney, Living Will,
Advanced Directives, Code
Status...and the list goes on.
This can seem like a foreign
language or a taboo topic but
these questions are asked at
the door of the hospital and
someone must advocate for the patient if they cannot
speak for themselves. Take 10 minutes and discuss what
your loved one would and would not want if they were
not able to speak for themselves. Preparing the legal
documents ahead of time will allow you to act on their
behalf and carry out their wishes.
In an ideal world, we'd relish the idea of discussing these
personal matters and could all jump in the car for a fun
filled Saturday of touring local care facilities. But the
reality is that life is very busy and these discussions are
not easy so take a deep
breath a tackle one topic at a
time. Connect with your
local resources and be
informed. Hind sight maybe
20/20 but a little preparation
will help you and your loved
one to see the future with
rose colored glasses.
Rebecca Paulie has extensive experience working in the
long term care industry. She is a contributing & freelance
writer for multiple publications and serves as an advocate
for senior related issues within the community. For more
information or assistance, please feel free to email at
[email protected].
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