Using Your Long-Term Care Policy

Perhaps, your parents are suddenly receiving late payments notifications for bills they swear they’ve paid. Maybe they’re also forgetting a pill here or there and the house seems a bit messier than usual? Is it possible it has come a time where they may now need some extra help and/or care?Determining and discussing with your parents at which age they may now require long-term care can be a challenging subject for many. After all, they may not even be showing any serious sign of cognitive decline so, how can you know for sure? The answer is you won’t. There is no specific age or point at which each individual requires care however, there are certain factors which we can observe to determine if extra help is needed. If you have a long-term care policy in place, how do you know when to start using it? Listed below are common telltale signs that it may be time to seek or discuss long-term care with and for your parents:

1.Suddenly Unorganized 

Have your parents always done a good job of keeping their home tidy, bills paid, and important files organized? Have you noticed recently any notices for late payments, missed prescriptions, or an usually cluttered home? The reason for this is likely not that they no longer care to upkeep their lives and homes but rather, they may suddenly find it harder to do so. Perhaps, they thought they already paid that bill, are having trouble remembering which pills to take, and simply cannot move around to tidy up like they once could. If you notice any of these signs ask your parents about it and open up a discussion to help investigate. Perhaps even a certain amount of hours of in home care from a contracted caretaker could help remedy these issues. If you have a long-term care policy, review it to see what type of care and services are covered.

2. Poor Hygiene

Hair that could benefit from a wash and forgetting deodorant one day or another, we’ve all been there and it’s usually no cause for alarm. But is this happening more and more often with your parents and worsening each time you see them? Are they having more oral health issues than usual? If you’ve noticed your parents hygiene has begun to decline this could mean it’s time for some extra reminders carrying out these tasks but also maybe even some help with these tasks. Perhaps, bathing has become troublesome and difficult for your parents.

3. Physical Decline 

A fall of any sort can be serious at any age especially for your parents. Falls, strokes, and surgeries can usually offset the beginning of necessary long-term care. Have your parents suffered from any of these? If so, take a look at how their functionality and mobility currently is and asses whether they are struggling or falling behind. Do not be afraid to ask questions and do not be afraid to suggest and put in place some extra help and care to protect the wellbeing of your parents.

If you or someone you love is interested in Long Term Care or Long Term Care Insurance be sure to visit: LTC TREE for more information.