October is Long-Term Care Planning Month, making it a good time to have a conversation many families tend to put off: What will we do if a loved one eventually needs more help with everyday life?
Thinking about long-term care can feel uncomfortable. No one wants to imagine losing independence or needing help with basic activities. Yet planning ahead can make a difficult situation easier for everyone involved.
“Long-term care planning isn’t about expecting something bad to happen,” says Sherri Post, Agency Manager at Avera@Home Pipestone. “It’s about talking with your family while everyone has the time and ability to make thoughtful decisions. When that conversation happens in advance, you’re not trying to figure everything out in the middle of a crisis.”
Start with a conversation
Long-term care can look different for each person. Some people may need help recovering from an illness or surgery. Others may need ongoing assistance with managing a chronic condition or with daily activities. At some point, a person may need more extensive support or comfort-focused care.
That is why there is no single long-term care plan that fits everyone.
Families can begin by discussing what matters most. Would you prefer to remain at home as long as possible? Who would you want involved in your care? What would make you feel safe and comfortable? Who should help make healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so yourself?
“These conversations don’t have to happen all at once,” Post says. “You can start with something as simple as asking your parents or spouse what they would want if they eventually needed more help. Once you start talking, you can work through the details together.”
Know what resources are available
For many people, staying at home is an important part of maintaining their independence and quality of life. Depending on a person’s needs, home health services may provide skilled nursing, therapy, medication education, wound care, and other support at home.
Avera@Home Pipestone provides personalized home health care to help patients recover from illness or surgery, manage chronic conditions, and remain safe at home. The agency also offers hospice care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
“Sometimes people don’t realize how many resources are available to help them stay at home,” Post says. “Our goal is to meet people where they are and help them and their families determine what they need. We want patients to feel supported, not like they have to figure everything out on their own.”
Planning ahead also gives families time to learn about different care options and understand which services may be available before they are urgently needed.
Make your wishes known
Another important part of long-term care planning is ensuring your wishes are documented and that the people you trust know about them.
Healthcare directives, financial planning, legal documents, and conversations with family members can all be part of preparing for the future. Your healthcare provider can also help you think through medical decisions and answer questions about your health and potential future needs.
The goal isn’t to predict exactly what will happen. It is to ensure your voice is part of the conversation.
“None of us knows exactly what the future will look like,” Post says. “But we can make sure the people we love know what matters to us. That can take a tremendous amount of pressure off families later.”
Planning ahead is an act of caring
Long-term care planning may not be the easiest conversation to start, but it can be among the most meaningful.
Having a plan can give individuals greater control over their future and help family members better understand how they can help. Most importantly, it allows everyone to focus on the person and their wishes rather than making difficult decisions under pressure.
“At the end of the day, this is about giving families peace of mind,” Post says. “We want patients to feel supported. They do not have to figure everything out on their own.”
Avera@Home Pipestone
Avera@Home Pipestone provides home health and hospice services to patients and families throughout the area. The team delivers care in patients’ homes, extended care facilities and the residential hospice setting, with a focus on comfort, support and dignity.
To learn more about Avera@Home Pipestone and the home health and hospice services available, visit www.pipestonehealth.org or call 507-825-6024.