Get the ball rolling with these conversation starters, based on the position your parents seem to be in. Make sure your own finances are squared away—you want to be prepared if the conversation comes around to your situation—gather your support team (spouses and siblings are a good place to start), and start talking. “I have a 40/70 rule, meaning if you’re 40 or your parents are 70,” says Jody Gastfriend, vice president of senior care at Care.com and author of My Parent’s Keeper. “But the sooner the better. When my dad got dementia, I realized you can never start too early.” To make the conversation feel less threatening and intrusive, open by saying you need their advice. Then segue into your questions: What do they believe are best practices for handling finances? What paperwork have they completed (long-term care insurance, living will, financial power of attorney)? What are their thoughts on in-home care versus assisted living, and how do they plan to afford their lifestyle over the years? Be sure to find out how to contact their lawyer or financial planner, as well as the whereabouts of their estate-planning documents. “Many parents are embarrassed and don’t want their children to know,” says Shirley Whitenack, an eldercare lawyer in Florham Park, New Jersey. If they’re in the hole when they die, their debt will likely not get passed to you, unless you’re a cosigner on their credit cards or mortgage. (The debt will be passed to the estate, however, and needs to be resolved before any inheritance is distributed.) If your parents have to lean on you financially in their later years, decide the best way to step in—maybe bills remain in their name but you pay them from your account, for instance. You should also try to understand their top money worries: “Let them know you want to help them live comfortably and avoid bankruptcy,” Whitenack says. Suggest they reach out to a nonprofit credit counseling agency for help creating a budget, says Bill Fay of Debt.org. You could also check the nationwide Eldercare Locator to find local organizations that assist with financial planning or estate documents. Find out where your parents keep the important bank documents, and start an “In Case of Emergency” file; scan the paperwork and share the file with your siblings. While you’re at it, see if your parents need to streamline their finances—maybe they can consolidate accounts so they’re easier to manage. A budgeting app like Truebill or Clarity Money can track subscriptions and expenses in one place. Ask your parents to sign up and share the log-in so you can check in if necessary. If your parent has a diagnosis but is still active and cognitively healthy, strive for a balance between candor and compassion. “You don’t have to take charge,” Gastfriend says. “That can make your parent feel like their rights are being taken away.” No matter what, discuss long-term care wishes and figure out a budget: The average cost of an assisted-living facility is $54,000 a year, and in-home care averages $27 an hour. “Eldercare is an enormous cost, and the majority of people aren’t well-off enough to self-fund it for years,” Gastfriend says. Ask them to share their long-term plans, for both their finances and day-to-day care. Your family may also want to consider hiring a senior-care expert to assess safety issues in your parents’ home, advocate for them, and mediate family discussions (find one at Aging Life Care). An initial consultation can range from $300 to $800, and additional services can cost between $100 and $250 per hour. Always stay in the loop—and don’t be shy about passing the Mom-and-Dad baton to a sibling if your parents are avoiding the conversation. Sometimes all it takes is another voice to get people to listen. It can be frustrating, but it just might do the trick.
