[Last updated September 30, 2024]
With increased health considerations, evolving medical conditions, complicated financial matters, and the need for long-term care planning, seniors’ lives can be anything but simple. Spouses and family members often step in to help where possible, but managing care and decisions not only can be time-consuming but also may require expert help. Luckily, the types of professionals discussed in this article are trained in specific disciplines that older adults must confront. From elder law attorneys and estate planners to geriatricians, geriatric care managers, senior living advisors, and more, every senior should have these pros on speed dial to help them with long-term care planning.
Senior living advisor
The first expert you need to talk with when planning for long-term care is a senior living advisor. These professionals help older adults understand senior living options with expert knowledge of the nuances between types of communities, home care options, and resources available in their area. A great senior living advisor knows their area’s long-term care communities, has likely toured many of them, and can help you determine which one is right for you.
Senior living advisors are experts in how aging impacts daily life and an individual’s finances. A senior living advisor can learn a senior’s health status, financial means, and care needs, and then advise on which type of care could be most helpful. Beyond that, the advisor can help the senior and family narrow down their choices in the area and tour facilities, understand the payment options, and make the selection.
Many senior living advisor services are free of charge to the senior: An advisor may be compensated by the community or home care provider if the senior they refer to the community or providers moves in or signs up for their services.
Financial advisor
Every individual should consult with a financial advisor to make sure they are financially prepared to cover the cost of living and senior care expenses. A financial advisor is an expert in helping clients maximize the growth and stability of their money. Not only should a financial advisor help a client manage their investments, but they should also help the client create financial goals and plan to reach them.
As people age, lives and circumstances change. Every senior should meet with their financial advisor on a regular basis to assess how their financial situation supports their needs. As the need for care increases, individuals may realize that costs aren’t always covered by Medicare. In fact, many senior care services are not covered by typical health insurance, so it’s important to understand what financial tools you have access to that can help you cover the costs when they arise.
Elder law attorney
Elder law attorneys are experts in handling the legal concerns of older adults. They can help an older adult with long-term care planning, health care matters, Medicaid planning, and other issues affecting people ages 65 and over, including estate planning and elder abuse. Elder law attorneys are advocates for the well-being and preservation of their senior clients’ assets and rights.
Estate planner
Estate planners may also be attorneys specializing in elder law-related topics, but we mention this discipline separately because of its importance. Every senior should plan how their assets and property will be distributed after their death, regardless of how simple they believe their estate to be, and an estate planner is there to help.
Every adult should have a last will and testament, a living will, and a power of attorney, and an estate planner can help get these documents in order. A last will is a document that indicates the beneficiaries of a person’s property after they pass away. This document is different from a living will, which an individual creates to state their wishes for medical treatment in the event that they cannot express their wishes themselves. There are multiple types of power of attorney. These documents allow an individual to indicate a specific person to be in charge of various matters, such as financial or health care decisions, depending on the type of power of attorney.
An estate planning attorney can also help older adults as they look ahead to paying for long-term care. Nursing home care, for example, can cost around $10,000 per month, on average — an amount that could quickly drain the retirement savings many hope to bequeath to their children and grandchildren. Estate planning attorneys can help with some Medicaid planning strategies that allow the individual to set aside funds in certain types of trusts to ensure that, should the senior need to pay for costly long-term care services, some of their assets will be protected for their heirs.
Accountant
Working with a trusted accountant is key to cost savings for many older adults. Many seniors need to file an annual tax return — but depending on the circumstances, some may not. This could be true for federal tax returns, but what about your state’s laws for filing? An accountant will be able to help.
Should you need to file taxes, an accountant can also advise on if and how a taxpayer can save money by deducting certain medical and long-term care costs from their income and thus lessen their tax obligation. The IRS continually updates the tax codes, which may include tax credits that can mean dollar-for-dollar savings on a senior taxpayer’s bill. It’s an accountant’s duty to stay up to date in order to give their clients the best service along with peace of mind.
Geriatrician
Just as a pediatrician specializes in the unique needs of a young person, a geriatric doctor has expertise in the needs of an older adult. These medical doctors have gone through extra training to work with individuals in late adulthood and specialize in supporting those with chronic conditions and age-related diseases and issues. Even if someone has seen the same doctor for most of their adult life, it may be wise for an older adult to see a geriatrician to get the specific care they may need.
Older adult patients can receive help and medical care for issues that uniquely affect their age group, such as balance issues, difficulty with performing activities of daily living, osteoporosis, incontinence, and others. Geriatricians also typically have knowledge of how these issues impact the ability to live independently. In some cases, a geriatric doctor’s office may also staff or contract with social workers, who can help patients find solutions to their health-related issues in the community.
Social worker
A social worker is a wealth of knowledge about community services and programs, elder care services, senior living requirements, resources for assistance, and much more. You can often find social workers employed in health care settings, whether in a hospital, a subacute rehab center, a home health agency, or even a geriatric doctor’s office. You may also find them by contacting your local area agency on aging.
Social workers can also help seniors cope with the emotional difficulties of age-related issues like evolving medical conditions, adjustments in independence, and the change of residence to a senior living community. They can help individuals learn about the programs available to them, like local transportation services, free meal delivery, and public programs that can help pay for expenses and even some long-term care. They’re also knowledgeable about Medicaid programs available in your state and how to qualify and apply for benefits.
Geriatric care manager
When older adults experience the growing complexity of managing doctor appointments, prescription refills, financial matters, health conditions, and care arrangements, they often need to lean on others. Spouses and other family members may find themselves giving the maximum effort yet still leaving a gap in the adult’s care. This is where a geriatric care manager comes in to help.
Geriatric care managers are usually registered nurses or social workers specially trained to assist older adult clients in managing their care. These expert individuals can be an invaluable asset to older adults, especially if they have complex medical conditions and live at home. Geriatric care managers work with the adult and the family to create a care plan and then implement the plan by connecting with the appropriate professionals and services in the area. They do the legwork and help keep the senior on track. Clients typically pay for these professional services out of pocket.
Long-term care planning is easier with professional services
Though life may get more complex with age, there are people in many professions who can help. Utilizing the services of any or all of these professionals can support an older adult in managing all aspects of life most effectively to ensure safety, comfort, and a high quality of life.
