Planning ahead for legal and health care matters provides you the opportunity to ensure that your needs and preferences are met. However, when you’re unexpectedly diagnosed with a progressive illness like Parkinson’s disease, planning for your future becomes fundamental to your well-being and peace of mind. There are several aspects that go into planning your future with Parkinson’s, including your long-term care needs and your end-of-life wishes.
It’s essential to lay out a financially stable and comfortable foundation for the road ahead. Neptune Society wants to help remove the stress of preplanning by clarifying the documents you’ll need and the tasks you’ll have to complete to establish a secure future for you and your family. Cross these important steps off of your checklist:
Plan your long-term care
There are many options for people who are looking into long-term care. Many people choose nursing homes, for example. If you aren’t ready to move or are still in the early stages of Parkinson’s, you can look into in-home aides or consider inviting a willing family member to become your primary caregiver. When deciding on the type of care you want, don’t forget to consider factors like the rate at which your condition is progressing along with your personal preferences.
There are in-home long-term care options for those who prefer the comfort of their own home.
The next step is determining how you’re going to pay for your care. Many people enroll in Medicare plans to cover doctor’s visits and prescriptions. The programs are broken into different levels of coverage to serve patients’ needs, making it easier for seniors to access the medical services that can benefit them the most. Assess your private health insurance coverage and any savings you have to help you pay for your expenses. You may also be eligible for Medicaid and Social Security Disability.
Start organizing your documents for future care
While it’s never easy to approach serious and emotional end-of-life decisions, if you don’t plan these key aspects of your future, someone else will be responsible and their decisions may not be the ones you would have made. There are four main legal documents you will need, including a will and forms that state your durable power of attorney, living trust and advance medical directives.
“The will allows you to select the heirs of your inheritance.”
The will allows you to select the heirs of your inheritance and exactly what they will receive after your death. You will also want to choose someone reliable to become your durable power of attorney. This person will act as your representative for financial matters when you’re no longer able to communicate your wishes due to your health. Your living trust will be in charge of controlling your estate when you’re no longer able and can manage your assets but is not permitted to sign legal documents on your behalf.
When filling out a living will, you can detail medical treatment instructions for your doctors to follow when you’re in the later stages of Parkinson’s. You then designate a representative to pass along your wishes by filling out a medical power of attorney.
Make end-of-life decisions
Specifying your wants and needs for your funeral or cremation can be a difficult process. However, detailing your wishes now will reduce stress for your loved ones at the time of need. Securing a pre-paid funeral or cremation plan will reduce the financial burden for your children and family members when the time of need comes. The Neptune Society makes this end-of-life decision easier by providing affordable pre-paid cremation plans for those interested in a burial alternative. To find out more about our pre-paid options and how we can help make the planning process easier for you, visit our website today.
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The Neptune Society is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of affordable cremation services. Whether you have an immediate need or want to plan cremation services in advance, we are always available to assist you and your family.
Call 1-800-NEPTUNE (800-637-8863) today or contact us online to learn more.
