Are you amazed that the end of the year is almost here? Did you have a goal for the year 2022 to create an estate plan and were you able to accomplish it? That is good news as we move into 2023. However, what about long-term care planning? Your estate plan will help with assets, finances and health concerns but what about your care in the future, whether in your home or a nursing home?
While it is true that thinking about a time when we cannot take care of ourselves is something that most of us would like to avoid, it is one of critical importance. Having the time to discuss long-term care early, before a crisis occurs or it is needed, is crucial. The peace of mind that comes from working with an experienced elder law attorney to ensure a lifetime of savings is protected from nursing home bills is an invaluable goal to accomplish this year.
If you need to look into long-term care, what should you do? Where should you start? In our firm, most of our clients have questions about long-term care and we understand that because long-term planning can be complicated. We would like to share an end of the year long-term care planning checklist that you may use when evaluating your need for long-term care planning over the holidays, or anytime throughout the year.
- Are you living in your own home?
- Do you currently have any mobility issues within your home?
- Is your home equipped so that you can age in place?
- Do you have a life alert or alarm system in place to help you should you fall?
- Have you had any changes to your doctors or medications?
- Are your doctors still covered by your insurance?
- Have you had any new health care concerns this year?
- Do you have a local support system made up of family, friends, neighbors, or your church?
- How is your mental health?
- Do you have a close family dynamic?
- Is your Florida estate plan up to date?
- Does your Florida durable power of attorney include super powers?
- Are you able to live comfortably off your monthly income?
- Do you have long-term care insurance?
- If you had to pay for a nursing home how long could you afford to pay out of pocket?
- Have you worked with an experienced Florida elder law attorney to create a plan for long-term care?
Again, long-term planning can be difficult to think about beginning, but it is critical. You need to not only plan for your future but also provide certainty for your future, which can often be missing in the aging process. When you plan for your long-term care, you can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with your planning.
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. At the Perlin Estate Planning & Probate our credentials enable us to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to our legal services. By building relationships with our clients, we are also able to understand each client’s needs and desires, and we support such goals through thoughtful, comprehensive planning techniques. We encourage you to contact us and schedule a meeting.