You’re rushing to drop the kids at school, fumbling with coats and lunchboxes, when you get the call. Mom’s had a fall, and she’s in the E.R. Your dad is panicked and asking you to come to their home in Concord, New Hampshire, now. But Concord, New Hampshire is 1,300 miles away, and the last-minute flight, plus the home health aide you’ll have to hire, will set you back $1,500 at least. This little scenario is all too common in today’s day and age where many family members live far away from where their parents call home.
Don’t be caught unprepared when a care need presents. There are plenty of things you can do now to create a working plan for both long-term home care and emergency situations.
If you are going to be responsible for your parent’s care, here are a few documents you will want to keep handy, in a safe spot.
- Birth certificate/adoption records
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Death certificates
- Military discharge
- Advance directives (primary care physician, hospital, and individual should have copies)
- Retirement and pension policies, including the names of beneficiaries
- Insurance policies
- Bank accounts and pass books
Also, it is important to gather and review pertinent information such as:
- Doctors’ names, addresses and phone numbers
- Prescription and non-prescription medications taken
- Social Security numbers, medical record numbers and military ID numbers
- Informal support resource names, addresses and phone numbers
For a more complete list of documents and information to gather when planning for home care, click here.
Contact Live Free Home Health Care to help you plan for home care needs now and in the future. During a free in-home assessment, we will determine which requirements need to be addressed, and assist with available options – engaging services quickly if necessary. We service Concord, New Hampshire, the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire.