Have you taken the time to discuss long term care and estate planning with your parents? Are you concerned about bringing this to light, as you are unsure of what it will lead to?
Talking about long-term care and estate planning with your parents is not always easy. However, it’s important to do so at some point, as this is the best way to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Even if you have concerns about what may come from the discussion, you need to push forward as soon as possible. Here are some tips to keep in mind when doing so:
- Request time to discuss these matters. You don’t want to unexpectedly spring this conversation on your parents, as this could catch them off guard and make things awkward. Instead, it’s best to request a meeting so that all parties can prepare accordingly.
- Know what you want to discuss. There is a lot to think about in regard to long-term care and estate planning, so you need to have a clear idea of what will move to the forefront. For example, you may want to pin down a nursing home for your parents in the event that they require long-term care in the future.
- Communicate your thoughts in a courteous and respectful manner. Like many, your primary fear is that you will come across as greedy. Since you want to avoid this, you should be clear with everything you’re saying. You don’t want there to be any gray area.
- Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to bring other people into the mix, such as a family doctor or tax professional. There are many professionals who can help with different aspects of your conversation.
It’s never easy to talk about long-term care and estate planning with your parents, but it’s the responsible thing to do in many cases.
As you prepare for this, learn as much as you can about their current situation. Also, focus on any laws that could impact decisions now and in the future. With all this information, you’ll feel confident in every step you take.
Kevin Tharpe
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