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SALT LAKE CITY — Along with setting aside money for retirement, caring for an aging parent may be a very real expense for middle-aged people.
While more and more people are starting to recognize the need to prepare for caring for an aging parent, it's still something that catches a lot of Utahns off-guard. According to Salt Lake County Aging Services Public Relations Coordinator Ken Venables, too many people are avoiding talking about it.
"Broach it now, sooner rather than later," Venables said. "Most folks wait until they're in crisis mode and then what happens is that they're just scrambling, looking for any type of resource that they can possibly find."
It's hard to predict exactly what kind of financial obstacles people may face in their old age. So, Venables said, these discussions need to be open and flexible, in case surprise expenses come up later.
Along with considering the financial obligations that aging parents may need, Venables said there are some legal matters that need to be thought of. Things like living wills and powers of attorney should be settled before they're needed.
"Thinking that there is a ‘one size fits all' (approach) for, ‘When should I talk to my parents about getting old and how to prepare for that?' is just a bit naïve," Venables said.
Children need to discuss what their parents' short-term and long-term needs will be. Plus, everyone in the family needs to be on the same page when it comes to who will care for the aging parents.
"It's overwhelming as it is," Venables said. "Don't feel like you're going to be able to do it all in one sitting."
