Issue 2, April 2007
FEATURE ARTICLE - Aging in Place - The Goal of Life Care Planning | HEALTHLINE - Alcohol and Aging |
LIFE CARE PLANNING - Meet Ruth Valentine - Elder Care Coordinator | CAREGIVER HELPLINE - Advocating for Long-Term Care Residents |
LEGAL LINE - An Underused LTC Benefit for Veterans and Surviving Spouses

Aging in Place - The Goal of Life Care Planning

There's no place like home. This is what the term "aging in place" really means. In other words, growing older without having to move as your health circumstances change. As we age, we can expect the following to occur:

* Decreased mobility, strength, stamina and dexterity.

*Reduced sensory acuity, especially vision and hearing.

* Isolation from family and friends due to loss of peers,
children living far away, and changing neighborhoods.

In the past, someone experiencing the changes listed above would move in with family or go to a nursing home. For generations, these were the only two options. With today's ever more complicated long-term care environment, this is no longer the case, if you have a plan to allow you to age in place. Such a plan is especially important if you develope a chronic health condition such as diabetes, arthritis or Alzheimer's disease.

To age in place one should be aware of the types of services that may be needed to deal with increasing frailty or age-related problems. These can include:

*Home maintenance and modifications;

*Housework, meal preparation and personal care assistance
such as dressing and bathing;

* Driving (shopping and transportation to doctors' appointments);

* Home health care services or family caregiviers.

You need a place to live that is safe and fits with your abilities and disabilities. Without a plan for aging in place, you will not be able to stay in control of your life. Knowing your health risks and financial and legal options will make a big difference in your ability to age in place.

Denial prevents many people from doing proper planning. No one can predict if you will need help due to a chronic health condition; however, the longer you live, the greater the chances of you needing care. Without good planning, you may underestimate the cost of services or have no idea how to get the services you need when you need them. This lack of planning is what keeps most people from being able to age in place.

Proper planning begins with a complete assesment of health, legal and financial matters, and available services (both family and private). Coordination of all these factors is essential. Family members have to be honest with themselves as to how much care they can realistically provide both now and as their parents become more frail. The good news is that other options are available, if you know where to look and what questions to ask. Even if the parent cannot be cared for safely in the home, options less restrictive than a nursing home exist.

Life Care Planning brings together all the necessary planning elements. Life Care Planning uses the expertise of an Elder Law Attorney and an Elder Care Coordinator, to address the legal and financial circumstances and determine the physical and mental needs of the client. A Life Care Plan answers the following questions:

*What long-term care services are available?

*How can I be sure of getting the best care possible and how do I pay for it?

*How will financial and health care decisions be made for me,
if I can't make them myself?

*If I can't take care of myself, what will happen to my spouse?

*How can I protect my assets to take care of my spouse?

A Life Care Plan is a road map for total care with two simple goals - to maximize your loved one's quality of life while preserving wealth for the future. If you wait too long and a crisis develops, planning to age in place and to protect assets may become impossible. Together, the Elder Law Attorney and the Elder Care Coordinator work with clients and their families to assist seniors in attaining the highest possible quality of life and affording them the best chance possible to age in place.

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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. Copyright © 2009 by Levandowski & Darpino, LLC. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this time for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.