60 seconds: the unique challenges of caring for your parents and your own family

 

Whether you are an only child, shouldering the entire burden of helping your family, or you are navigating your parents care with siblings who have different levels of involvement and possibly different ideas of what should happen, we are here for you every step of the way. Our caring team understands that you have a lot going on, including caring for your own family. Our long term care service includes the legal, financial, health, and care planning to ensure your parents are cared for, while reducing the burden on you. You won’t have to try to figure out the answers to dozens of questions related to their care, now you will have a trusted guide to help you along this journey. You’ve surely received advice from many people, but most of it isn’t helpful. We create a plan that covers care costs, addresses what to do with their stuff, makes sure their benefits are maximized, and our Care Coordinators help you navigate the challenges of caring for an aging parent, especially when it is accompanied by physical and cognitive decline. Choosing a life care plan for your parents is a gift for your whole family. It ensures your parents are receiving everything they need and it takes the burden off of your shoulders. Let us help you get back to being a loving family member.

 
 

When the tables turn and you are now caring for your aging or sick parent, there are important considerations:

  • Do you have legal access to their finances? If not, what can or should you do?

  • Do they have the funds to cover increased care costs?

  • Are you spending considerable time (or money) caring for them?

  • Do you know which accounts you should spend from first (and last)?

  • Have you been told you need to spend most of their assets before they can get government benefits like Medicaid or Aid and Attendance?

  • Are they doing anything that is not safe? How can you handle it?

  • Do you need to find caregivers or placement for them? Not sure what all your options are?

  • Are you trying to limit your own out of pocket expenses?

Let us help you with a plan to address these and more.

About 17 percent of adult children will provide care at some point in their lives. When adult children do provide care, they devote an average of 77 hours per month to this activity. -Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, How much long-term care do adult children provide? Number 17-11, June 2017

Other options fall short, and here’s why:

  • Traditionally, most advice in this area revolves around being “reactive” to the situation. Being reactive costs time, money, and gives up options. Options should be implemented at the first opportunity for the most benefit.

  • Anyone just getting legal documents is losing out if they don’t have a comprehensive plan with back-up options for how to deal with evolving care needs and costs.

  • Most people are not skilled at navigating the various systems that must be dealt with: Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans Benefits, Social Security, Retirement Plans, Taxes, Long Term Care Insurance, Facility Admissions, Facility Discharges, Caregiver Support, Dementia Diagnosis, and more.

  • Most plans don’t include detailed instructions on how and when to use assets.

All of our clients receive:

  • A thorough understanding of their role and obligations

  • Alternative options and back-up plans for any strategy we develop

  • Support for all of our life care planning clients for any moves between home and a facility

  • Advice on how to move assets to best accomplish the goals of your plan

  • A skilled team ready and able to answer questions about what may be best in a given situation

  • Life care planning clients have a personal liaison to our team to streamline communication and answer questions

  • A detailed instruction sheet for financial plans that you can use to ensure everything is done right

  • Updated options and plans that pivot with you while we support your journey

CLICK HERE to get more information or schedule a consultation.

Common Questions

  • What are my obligations to care for my parents?

    We understand that everyone’s situation is unique. You may have special reasons behind why you have chosen to care at a certain level for your parents. Our goal is to support you in your decision and reduce the burden it has on your day-to-day life. We help ensure they have the resources necessary for their care and that you are supported in your efforts.

  • What are my costs?

    Our clients routinely hire us on behalf of their parents. This means that our services are primarily to benefit the parents and our fees can be paid for by them.

  • Are there cheaper options?

    Of course there are cheaper options. Our philosophy is that you get what you pay for and plan for. We all know this to be true. Our skilled team navigates complex government programs, advises our clients in a tax efficient way, provides strategy for various issues, and provides comprehensive services that align legal, financial, tax, and health care needs.

  • This is overwhelming. Where do I start?

    If you want help, all you have to do is contact our office by clicking HERE or calling us at 803-563-5163. We will do a pre-consultation call with you to find out more about your situation. If you are a good candidate for our services, we will forward you a questionnaire to complete and schedule a consultation so we can dive into what we can do to help you navigate through the complexities you are facing. Our consultation fee is normally $550 and can be applied to the cost of our services if you decide to hire us.

Lisa Hostetler Brown, CELA* Certified Elder Law Attorney, Certified by the National Elder Law Foundation

Lane Cook, CFP* Certified Financial Planner, conferred by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Pursuant to SC Ethics Advisory Opinion 17-02: Click on the hyperlinks on the bios on the Our Team page to see information about each designation or accolade, dates of designations, publication or entity, and standards for inclusion.  No payment was required for designation or inclusion in listings.

Lisa Hostetler Brown, *CELA | 7511 Saint Andrews Rd., Ste. 3 Irmo, SC 29063 | 133 Woodruff Place Cir., Simpsonville, SC 29681 |*Certified by National Elder Law Foundation | 803.563.5163. ADVERTISING MATERIAL Webinars, training presentations, newsletters, and related materials provide general information regarding particular subjects, and are not intended to constitute legal advice nor establish an attorney-client relationship.