Have you had the talk? Discussing potential future long term care needs with your aging parents can be uncomfortable, but it’s important to get the conversation started. Planning ahead and making important decisions together can help your parents age on their own terms.

Most families are unprepared for the long term care of aging parents. Choosing the right time and environment for your conversation is important. There may be opportunities in connection with significant life events. Family gatherings may also present occasions to bring up the subject. While you should be prepared to spend most of the conversation listening, the following checklist can help guide the conversation:

1. What plans do your parents have in place for the future? Do they have a current will, power of attorney, and a living will? Where are those documents located?
2. Where can you find the contact information for their preferred doctors who are familiar with their health history?
3. What are their preferences for their overall standard of living, including housing? Would those change if one of them becomes widowed?
4. Who would be their choice for a caregiver? Would they prefer to receive care from a relative or from a professional service?
5. Have they made any preparations for long term care, and have they thought about how will they fund that care?

While some people can fund long term care costs from their savings, Long Term Care (LTC) insurance is an excellent way to prepare for the unforeseen. With costs for care continuing to rise, LTC insurance can reduce the burden of the unknown. Our LTC advisors are available to help you do your homework and to provide you with a range of options—including discounted policies—free of charge.

Long term care may not be the easiest conversation you’ll have with your parents, but it could end up being one of the most important.