Some Restrictions Have Been Lifted, but Will Things Ever be “Normal”?

COVID-19 has changed the way we do business, has changed the way we live our everyday lives and has changed our plans for the near future. Everything from school, graduations, work, vacations and even grocery shopping has been impacted. I recently heard a comparison that stuck with me. As COVID-19 approached it is as if we were warned of an incoming blizzard, but what we were left with was a very long, cold winter.

Maybe there was an intention of moving your loved one to a care facility before all of this started and it came to a halt when the Coronavirus struck. Now that we are seeing glimpses of re-openings, there is a need again for care for our loved ones. We must return to work and mom or dad needs help. Our loved one is no longer safe at home. Let us take a peek at what that will look like.

Communities all have different policies and procedures that meet guidelines. Some are accepting admissions, some are not. Some are doing virtual tours of communities; some are meeting in person at a social distance with photos and information to answer all your questions. Those accepting admissions will have a quarantine phase in place before a loved one can join the community. There is so much to think about that it can get overwhelming. Trying to figure all of this out on your own is not easy. It is so important that we make sure we carry on one step at a time when planning for our loved one. Is this something that has been discussed with them or perhaps the conversation is the best possible starting point?

If you have had this conversation, the next step in this process is to be sure your loved one has their disability documents in place. A financial power of attorney is the most important document to make any move to senior care possible. Without a financial power of attorney and healthcare documents, most communities would not allow you to move in because they require financial and healthcare powers of attorney to be admitted. It is also important that these documents are updated by an elder law attorney. Not all documents are created the same. We must be sure the language in the documents references not only someone’s cognitive competency, but they also must have the correct language for gifting so that if your loved one ever needs Medicaid, you can provide and have access to all that is needed for those government benefits when the time comes.

Once your documents are in order then it is time to figure out which senior community is best for your loved one. At Van Dyck Law Group, we provide that service in addition to taking care of all your legal needs. We will help you through process of finding the right senior care option whether your plan is to keep mom home with care or move into a senior care community. We will walk you through this process every step of the way and represent you as our client in all aspects. Call us today at 609-580-1044 to start the process for your consultation to see what services and plans may be best to get your started in helping your aging loved one plan for life ahead.