The Complete Legal Guide to Senior Care : Making Sense of the Residential, Financial and Medical Maze Book

Introduction
Chapter 1: Understanding and Facing the Situation

• Understanding Age
• Assessing
• Talking to Your Parents about Needs and Choices
• Discussion Early On
• Understanding How Your Parent Feels
• Coping with Your Emotions
• Developing a New Attitude and Relationship with Your Parent
• Involving Other Family Members
• Dealing with Resistance from Your Parent
• Fulfilling Your Role
• Support Organization Evaluation Worksheet
• Tips for Coping with Stress
• Tips for Working with Family Members

• The Medical World
• Dealing with Medical Personnel
• Hospital Care
• Dealing with Hospital Visits
• Coping with Long-Term Medical Problems
• Becoming a Medical Care Manager
• Managing Lifestyle
• Dealing with Disabilities
• Mental Health Issues
• Dental, Vision, and Hearing
• Sleep Problems
• Doctor Evaluation Worksheet
• Medication Evaluation Worksheet
• Hospital Care Worksheet
• Questions to Ask Medical Personnel
• Tips for Having a Good Conversation with a Doctor
• Tips for Helping Your Parent Cope
• Tips to Get Medical Personnel to Listen to You
• Tips to Finding Medical Information

• When to Become Involved
• Getting a Handle on Finances
• Helping Your Parent Think about Finances
• Legal Authority
• Organizing Records
• Bill Paying
• Budgeting
• Planning for the Future

• Finding an Attorney
• Knowing Who the Client Is
• Wills
• Trusts
• Powers of Attorney
• Health Care Directives and Proxies
• Guardianship
• Attorney Evaluation Worksheet
• Attorney Interview Worksheet

• Health Insurance
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Private Insurance
• Veteran's Health Benefits
• Other Options
• Medigap Policy Evaluation Worksheet
• Long-Term Care Insurance Evalutation Worksheet
• Tips for Handling Medicaid/Medicare Appeals

• Evaluating the Situation
• Modifying the Home
• Creating a Plan
• Getting Help
• Coping with Emergencies
• Emergency Systems
• Transportation
• Maintaining a Social Life
• Spiritual Needs
• Staying Active
• In-Home Health Care
• Self-Provided Care
• Your Role
• Downsizing
• Home Care Provider Evaluation Worksheet
• Home Care Agency Evaluation Worksheet

• How to Make the Decision
• Involving Your Parent
• Coping with Emotions
• Dealing with Belongings
• Pets
• Securing the Home
• Utilities and Bills
• The Selling Process
• Letting Go
• Deciding to Sell or Maintain the Home
• Tips on Home Security
• Tips for Preparing a Home for Showings

• Family Member Living at the Senior's Home
• Sharing Your Own Home with Your Parent
• Coping
• ECHO Housing
• In-Law Apartments

• By Definition
• Assistance
• Costs
• Who it is Appropriate for
• Finding a Senior Residence
• Evaluating
• Involving Your Parent
• Evaluating the Contract
• Making the Move
• Adjusting
• Your Role
• Dealing with Your Feelings
• Dealing with the Future
• Senior Residence Staff Evaluation Worksheet
• Senior Residence Staff Evaluation Worksheet

• Assistance
• Cost
• Who it is Appropriate for
• Finding a Place
• Evaluating
• Involving Your Parent
• Contracts
• Your Role
• Your Feelings
• The Future
• Assisted Living Faculty Staff Evaluation Worksheet
• Assisted Living Faculty Evaluation Worksheet
• Tips for Assisted Living

• Understanding Nursing Homes
• Costs
• Finding a Nursing Home
• What to Look For
• Evaluating
• Involving Your Parent
• Understanding the Contract
• Nursing Home Policies
• Making the Move
• Getting to Know Staff and Procedures
• Settling In
• Your Role
• Dealing with Problems
• Nursing Home Staff Evaluation Worksheet
• Tips for Filing Complaints with Government Agencies

• How it Works
• Requirements
• Considering this Option
• Contracts
• Problems
• Evaluating
• CCRC Staff Evaluation Worksheet
• CCRC Facility Evaluation Worksheet

• Getting Hospice Care
• Payment for Hospice
• What to Look For
• Making the Decision
• Creating a Hospice in Your Parent's Home
• Spiritual and Emotional Support
• Hospice Program Staff Evaluation Worksheet
• Tips for Keeping Your Parent Comfortable

• What to Expect
• Your Emotions
• Helping Your Parent Cope
• Finding Your Own Way to Say Goodbye
• Pain Management
• Quality of Life
• Understanding the Procedures that Follow Death
• Taking Care of Yourself
• Grief
• Funerals and Memorial Services
• Obituary
• Notifying Friends and Family
• Protecting Your Home
• Caring for Your Other Parent
• Finances
• Probate and Estates
• Making Your Peace
• Tips for Coping with Your Emotions
• Tips for Helping Your Parent Cope

• Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
• What to Expect
• Coping
• Being Prepared
• Leaving Home
• Moving Forward
• Alzheimer's Facility Evaluation Worksheet
• Tips for Helping Your Parent with Alzheimer's

• Getting a Handle on What You are Facing
• Setting Priorities
• Managing Your Time
• Accepting Change
• Involving Your Family
• Managing Your Job
• Keeping a Social Life
• Battling Guilt
• Battling Resentment
• Battling Anger
• Dealing with Grief and Loss
• Maintaining Your Relationships
• Finding Help
• Helping Your Children Cope
• Holidays
• Thinking About Your Future

• How to Talk to a Couple
• Helping Them Make Decisions Together
• Helping Them Face Each Other's Situations
• How They Can Help Each Other
• Effect of Aging on Their Relationship
• The Desire to Stay Together
• Respecting their Relationship
• Decision-Making
• Managing Temporary Separations
• Dealing With Grief
• Tips for Dealing with Couples

• rstanding Your Limitations
• Making Decisions and Getting Information from a Distance
• Finding Local Help
• Considering a Move
• Dealing with Your Emotions
• Dealing with Family Members
• Getting Medical Updates
• Handling Finances from a Distance
• Staying in Touch
• When to Visit