Navigating elder care

 For years now I've been navigating elder care scenarios with a team of siblings, friends, relatives, and extended family members. It has been a tough journey since there's so much I didn't and still don't understand about the systems supporting elder care. Today I want to focus on the ups and downs of these systems including both the positives and negatives. 

First of all, as people get older they meet with a myriad of medical needs. Good insurance is a key ingredient to dealing with those needs as well as you can. The country's medical systems are in dire need of repair when it comes to caring for people of all walks of life. Right now it seems like the health systems serve those with lots of money, and leave a lot of others behind with subpar care or no care at all. It's a crime especially with regard to the fact that our country can create systems where everyone is well served by health care. With this in mind, it's critical to have insurance and understand what that insurance can do for you as well as your insurance limitations. Similarly if you are caring for elderly adults, it's critical to understand their insurance benefits well too. 

Next, it's important to take both the short- and long-view of your loved one's care in order to avoid as many last minute decisions as possible. Time gives you the ability to shop around for quality care providers and places if needed. 

If you do need a location for your loved one's care, it's best to know up front what that location can and cannot do for your loved one. You need to make the time to understand the care facility's rules and regulations as well as services and limitations. If you don't do that, you'll be surprised and even possibly manipulated by the care facility leading to less or no care for your loved one. 

If you are working with a team to secure care for your loved one, it's essential to understand the roles of the team members and how your team will work together. Who will be the power of attorney when your loved one can no longer decide for themselves? Who will make the decisions and how will the decisions be made? These are important questions best made before people reach advanced ages or medical conditions. 

As I think about my own longevity and care, I want to review the following questions:

• Do I have adequate health care insurance, and what does my health care insurance cover?
• Do I have a plan for old age and do my closest family members know that plan? 
• Does my plan include a variety of pathways dependent on how life unfolds?

You can't plan for every one of life's challenges and events, but you can be prepared for the most part. 

As for those you care for, these considerations need to be made. 

• Organize all their health care information and events in an online or hard copy binder
• Make sure all insurance is up to date
• Secure a good medical team, and if needed places for care
• Understand what the places for care can and cannot provide
• Take the situation step-by-step as the life journey continues

As I think about this arena of life, I realize that it's easy to not focus on these unattractive matters. Who wants to think about aging and health needs, but it's necessary and must be done. Onward.