5 Ideas You Can Use When Talking to Your Loved Ones About Long-Term Care Planning Over the Holidays

With everyone in your family gathering together during the holiday season, whether the gathering is in person or virtual, December can be a good time to talk to your loved ones about long-term planning. Have you thought about having a conversation with loved ones about long-term planning? As this year ends and a new one is set to begin, it can be helpful to frame the conversation in terms of planning for a bright future. Let us review 5 ideas you can use when talking to your loved ones about long-term care planning over the holidays.

Consider what you would like to say beforehand. Prior to raising the subject of long-term planning with your parents or other loved ones, think about what it is you want to achieve with the conversation. For example, does it worry you that your parents do not have long-term care plans in place? If so, are you asking them to create them? Are you offering to help them do this?

Come prepared with suggestions. If you would like to encourage your parents to establish long-term care plans, keep in mind that they might not already have done this because they do not know where to start. Bring some basic, neutral information so they can educate themselves at their own pace if that is something they would like to do.

Choose one subject to focus on for now. While it may seem like opportunities for deep conversation do not come around every day and you want to make the most of this one, try to keep the discussion contained and focused. Maybe discussing just some basics would be the best place to start. Do they want to stay in their home? What can be done to help keep them safe in their home as they age? Do they have long-term care insurance?

Keep the big picture in mind. Chances are, as discussed above, by keeping your eye on the big picture of getting your loved ones started with long-term care planning and letting some of the details wait for next time, there may be a greater chance that what is discussed will stick.

Focus on the future. While long-term planning can be a scary subject because it involves thinking about growing old or becoming ill, it can also be framed as a way to plan for everyone’s future. When your parents or loved ones plan for their long-term care, the entire family can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with that.

Our office is available to help you and your loved ones navigate long-term care planning. Please feel free to reach out to us to schedule a meeting.