Moving Mom & Dad - 5 Common Mistakes Made by Adult Children of Aging Parents

5 Mistakes Adult Children of Aging Parents Make

Mistake #1 ~ Waiting for a crisis to have a conversation about housing and/or care options.

While you might think you know what your elder parents want, without having an actual relevant conversation in advance, the combination of denial and lack of preparedness can lead to less than optimal outcomes when caring for an aging parent. Choices are typically limited when a crisis occurs as most housing, including Independent Living and Supportive options, have wait times. They may not like the options that are available to them in a crisis.

Mistake #2 ~ Failing to adequately equip the home with accessibility features to allow for safe and successful aging-in-place.

Many older adults indicate they would like to stay in their current home however; it is not usually a feasible option if their home and community is not adequately equipped.

Mistake #3 ~ Lack of knowledge of Senior Living Communities and Supportive Care options available.

One of the most difficult tasks in assisting older adults with a transition, is the decision of where to move. If having to move in a hurry, decisions often have to be made without full knowledge of all available options. This can result in your family member having to move more than once, can leave them with regrets and unnecessary expense.

Mistake #4 ~ Trying to manage the liquidation of the estate and personal items alone.

OMG! What to do with all that suff! Sorting, organizing and deciding what to take along, how to dispose of everything left and not knowing what options and resources are available for help can be overwhelming, stressful and very time-consuming. Whether out of a sense of duty or lacking knowledge of available resources; this is not the time to go it alone.

Mistake #5 ~ Failure to have proper legal documentation in place.

Although an unfortunate reality, denial does not change the fact that the likelihood for illness or cognitive impairment increases with age. Family members and their elders must prepare for the possibility of delegating finances, including sale of property and relocation details to a trusted third party or professional advisor. Get that legal documentation taken care of in advance.

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