Aging is a fact of life. If we’re lucky, we’ll live until we reach our 90s and beyond and be as healthy as possible until then.
One of the ways that we can guarantee a brighter future for ourselves is to start long-term care planning early on. By learning about long-term care planning and starting it as soon as possible, you can have a more comfortable – and happier – life once you become a senior.
Here’s some more information on questions you should ask your Washington State attorney about long-term care planning.
When Should I Start Long-Term Care Planning?
Ask your attorney when you should start the process. They will tell you that, ideally, you should start ASAP. Don’t wait until you’re already well into your 60’s or 70’s, or older, to begin. You never know what might happen, and it’s a good idea to plan ahead as much as possible. If you’re already a senior, get in touch with an attorney now.
What Does Long-Term Care Planning Entail?
You should ask your attorney what the long-term care planning process entails. Typically, it involves planning for how you’re going to pay for your care, who is going to take care of you, where you’re going to live – either at home, in assisted living, or with relatives – what kind of medical care you need, and end-of-life care. For instance, you could look into assisted living options or staying at home and prepare for both options. You may have to save up for assisted living, go on tours of facilities, and meet with people who live there to hear their opinion. If you’re staying at home, you might have to hire a carer, buy Life Alert, set up security cameras, and make your home fall-proof.
How Am I Going to Pay for Long-Term Care?
This is a big question on everyone’s mind. You can ask your attorney about different options for paying for your care. For instance, you may have long-term care insurance. Many people have to dip into their savings to cover their care. There are also low-cost assisted living facilities available. Plus, you can budget your money now to pay for care later. You can learn about what Medicare will and won’t cover, too.
What Legal Documents Do I Need?
You will need to create legal documents to protect yourself and ensure you get the care you need. If you have an advance directive in place, you can let your loved ones know what kind of treatment you’d like if you become incapacitated. For example, you may want to be put on life support if you get into an accident. You don’t want to leave the decisions up to your loved ones; it puts too much pressure and responsibility on them, and it can cause rifts among them. Plus, they might not know your wishes. Having a power of attorney in place as well as doing some estate planning is advisable as well. You can contact an experienced Washington State attorney about long-term care planning, estate planning, and other issues surrounding aging. Then, you’ll be well prepared for this next stage in your life.
Get In Touch With an Estate Planning Attorney
If you need help with long-term care planning in Washington State, you should reach out to the estate planning attorneys at Legacy Law Group in Eastern Washington, Spokane Valley, and Spokane itself. Contact us at (509) 315-8087 today to get started.
