Often, the first time we realize that an aging parent needs our help is when we get a call from a hospital informing us that our loved one has been transported to the emergency room. Sometimes it’s a fall. Other times it could be something like a heart attack, a stroke, a ruptured or obstructed bowel, even a car accident because perhaps your parent should no longer be driving. Whether your parents live in their own home, an assisted living facility, with you but you’re at work, no aging parent is totally immune from this type of event happening.
When it’s your parents, your spouse, your sibling, there’s nothing scarier. If you live out of the area, the helplessness you’re feeling is even worse. You’re thrown into crisis mode. And there’s a lot of emotion involved with crisis. Things can go haywire and can certainly build into challenging scenarios if there’s been no plan put in place to prepare for these things happening.
The suddenness of these events complicates the situation. There’s no guarantee your loved one is prepared. And lack of preparation isn’t only emotional. It’s also possible they don’t have a plan to handle all the necessary tasks going forward...things like hospital admission, understanding of Medicare or Medicaid, conversations with hospital social workers, and the aftermath of rehabilitation.You want the best for your loved one. But if there’s no plan in place when a crisis occurs, all the love in the world cannot offset your helplessness and confusion. Through our knowledge, expertise, and objectivity, we can help you take the right steps. Call us to talk about how we can help you and your family—not only when you’re in crisis but also in the aftermath. Make me your first call.
