01 December 2010
Britons Plan Their Funeral Before Care
The latest Helping Hands survey has revealed that 48 per cent of UK adults have discussed wishes in the event of their death with family and friends, whereas just 27 per cent have tackled the topic of how they would like to be cared for when they can no longer care for themselves.
That statistic is no surprise. Of the hundreds of enquiries we receive for live in care each month the vast majority will be from families with an immediate need in a state of urgency. Without the luxury of preplanning they are thrown into the long term care labyrinth head on, grasping to understand their funding options whilst balancing the care home or home care debate with the guilt and exhaustion that comes with such a family crisis. They can be highly emotive calls.
“31 per cent of those questioned trusted their relatives to make the right decision for them whilst 33 per cent stated that their elder years were too far away to think about the care that they might need.
However, 29 per cent admitted to burying their head in the sand by not wanting to think about it and 21 per cent believed there was no need to discuss care when they weren’t currently ill”
So maybe a checklist of questions is in order to help with elderly care preplanning:
1. Where do you want to receive care ?
At home or in a residential setting? Consider what it is that’s most important to you.
2. Who will be involved ?
Are you relying on family members to make key decisions for you if you cant or to provide the care themselves ? If looking at formal carers / providers what kind of person would you be looking for ? Consider what it is that’s most important to you.
3. How will it be financed?
Are you eligible for public sector funding? Will you be able to pay for care privately ? Will you need to sell your home or consider other ways of releasing funds ?
Forego the fact that it may be slightly uncomfortable to start with, you are talking about dignity in old age, empowering your family and easing the guilt.
