For most folks, your professional endeavors give you at least some sense of identity, so who are you after you retire? Many retirees enthusiastically embrace new roles as grandparents, community volunteers, family genealogists, and the like. Sometimes, though, life casts us into a role for which we are completely unprepared.

Instead of spending your days relaxing or meeting up with old and new friends, you may find yourself in the role of full-time caregiver for a family member with dementia. The stress and loneliness of providing care full-time for a family member with any chronic illness are unrelenting, but caring for a family member with dementia is a uniquely heartbreaking experience.  If someone in your family has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or another, a Northern Kentucky long-term care planning lawyer can help you make the best possible financial and logistical plans to support you in your caregiving role.

Aging in Place is About More Than Just Your Physical Surroundings

You and your spouse may have decided long ago that, no matter how old you are and how fragile your health is, you will always live together at home and take care of each other. Aging in place, as opposed to moving to some sort of senior living facility, is a popular strategy, because it is often believed to be nowhere near as expensive as the costs senior living facility, especially if your home mortgage is paid off.

However, there are a few matters you should keep in mind. You may need to make some modifications to your house to accommodate your or your spouse's changing mobility needs. This needs to be budgeted for. There is also the planning for the emotional stress of meeting the needs of a family member who needs around-the-clock care. You should consider that family members nearby may already be stretched thin with their own responsibilities, and this can often lead to burnout or resentment.

Therefore, no matter how healthy you are or how close-knit your family is, everyone ideally should obtain long-term care insurance or a hybrid life insurance policy that includes long-term care benefits. These benefits often allow for in-home care to be rendered by agencies who specialize in providing care to seniors.

Contact Darpel Elder Law About Embracing Your Role as a Family Caregiver

An elder law attorney can help you build an estate plan that enables your family to stick together through thick and thin.  Contact Darpel Elder Law in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, or call (859) 341-4100.

Sources

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/rethinking-how-we-train-caregivers-for-people-with-dementia