Most people on the planet don’t like being told what to do. For elderly people, who have lived their lives successfully and accumulated a lifetime of knowledge and experience, this tends to be even less so. Most seniors tend to bristle or get defensive when decisions are getting made on their behalf. But the problem is that it’s vital for adult children and other caregivers and loved ones to intercede on behalf of seniors should it be necessary for their care. Not all seniors will require that level of intervention, but many do. This is why it’s important to plan ahead, so you’re not stumbling unprepared through a difficult conversation when there’s no choice but to have it at that exact moment.
Looking ahead and planning for what may happen with an elderly parent is naturally going to be fraught with possibilities. While no one can know the future and not every eventuality can be planned for, keeping a general plan in mind can ease the stress when it comes time to make the big decisions regarding mental or physical decline, emergencies, or end of life care.
The first thing to think about when making a plan is the individual the plan is being made to benefit. Observing and documenting their state of being and any changes can give you an idea of what might be on the horizon and may require medical care. Make sure to involve them at every step of planning, so they can have control over what may happen should they be unable to later.