Does an Elderly Loved One Need Immediate Help?
Plan Your Next Move with Life Point Law’s Free Crisis Action Planner
“What should we do next?”
If your estate planning documents don’t answer the right questions, you’re setting your family up for hard work, unplanned expense, and unnecessary conflict.
It’s a common question for families after a sudden change in an elderly loved one’s health or safety.
Life Point Law’s Crisis Action Planner can help you answer this question.
Here’s how to use the Crisis Action Planner:
- Review the list of common elder care issues below.
- Click on the statement that best describes your situation.
- View the list of recommended actions, including links to helpful outside resources.
Health Related Issues
- First, contact the agent(s) named in the Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney if it is not you.
- Speak with your loved one’s primary care physician (PCP), if you have authorization to do so, about the severity of symptoms, expectation of future symptoms, and generally a better understanding of what your loved one is facing.
- Either contact a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) for assistance forming a plan of care. Or, contact the loved one’s attorney if they have one, or locate an Elder Law Attorney, if they did not. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- First, contact the agent(s) named in the Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney if it is not you.
- Then, get them in to see their Primary Care Physician for a checkup and diagnosis.
- Either contact a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) for assistance forming a plan of care. Or, contact the loved one’s attorney if they have one or an Elder Law Attorney, if they did not (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
Housing Related Issues
- First, contact the agent(s) named in the Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney if it is not you.
- Contact a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) or an Elder Law Attorney.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (aka Life Plan Communities)
- Senior Living Communities (aka Retirement Communities)
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Memory Care Facilities
- Residential Care Homes (aka Adult Family Homes)
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (aka Nursing Homes and/or Rehabilitation Centers)
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each with the GCM and/or attorney, including a discussion about whether or not you should be looking at options that will accept Medicaid. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- First, contact the agent(s) named in the Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney if it is not you.
- If it is determined that home is not a realistic goal, see the bullet point above ~ “If a loved one’s care needs cannot be safely addressed at home.”
- Contact an elder law attorney, who will work with you and a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) to form a plan and get your loved one home (if it is possible to do so). (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
Financial Related Issues
- First, contact the agent(s) named in the Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney if it is not you.
- Obtain, if possible, documentation of all assets, income, and expenses for the loved one (if they have an accountant, that person may be the best place to start).
- Consult with an Elder Law Attorney regarding your loved ones options for obtaining Veteran’s benefits and/or Medicaid benefits. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Consult with a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) to verify that the level of care and the cost of care are appropriate for your loved one’s needs, and to find alternative care if they are not.
- First, attempt to locate the original Will of the loved one.
- Contact the named Personal Representative (PR), if it is not you.
- If your deceased loved one or the PR have an attorney, update the attorney of the situation and consult with them regarding next steps.
- If they do not have an attorney, or the attorney does not handle issues of probate, contact an Elder Law Attorney, who will walk you through the process of handling the estate. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
Legal Related Issues
- First, attempt to locate the original Will of the loved one.
- Contact the named Personal Representative (PR), if it is not you.
- If your deceased loved one or the PR have an attorney, update the attorney of the situation and consult with them regarding next steps.
- If they do not have an attorney, or the attorney does not handle issues of probate, contact an Elder Law Attorney, who will walk you through the process of handling the estate. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Contact the person who is most likely to administer the estate, if it is not you
- If your deceased loved one or the anticipated administrator have an attorney, update the attorney of the situation and consult with them regarding next steps.
- If they do not have an attorney, or the attorney does not handle issues of probate, contact an Elder Law Attorney, who will walk you through the process of handling the estate. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Contact the person who is most likely to administer the estate, if it is not you
- Contact an Elder Law Attorney, who does not already represent your loved one, to learn more about filing for a Guardianship. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Obtain as much documentation of your loved one’s situation as possible to show the abuse/neglect of the named agent.
- Contact an Elder Law Attorney, who does not already represent your loved one or their agent, to learn more about filing for a Guardianship and/or a Vulnerable Adult Protection Order (VAPO) and subsequent Guardianship. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Obtain as much documentation of your loved one’s situation as possible to show the abuse/neglect of the named agent.
- Contact an Elder Law Attorney, who does not already represent your loved one or their agent, to learn more about filing a Vulnerable Adult Protection Order (VAPO). (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
- Obtain, if possible, documentation of all assets, income, and expenses for the loved one (if they have an accountant, that person may be the best place to start).
- Obtain, if possible documentation of current health concerns.
- Obtain, if possible, a list of all professionals that work with your loved one (doctors, accountants, financial planners, attorneys, care givers, etc.)
- Contact an Elder Law or Estate Planning Attorney to prepare documents that take future health, housing, and financial needs into consideration. (Life Point Law can help if you live in Washington state. Please call(253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment.)
Questions? Need More Help?
Call Life Point Law at (253) 838-3454 to schedule an appointment with one of our compassionate Elder Law Attorneys. We have helped thousands of families manage these challenging situations. We can help you, too.
