Get Organized–Blog 2 of Caring for Aging Parents Series

The beginning of the year is a great time to tackle looming projects, like helping your aging parents get organized.

Though lots of work, taking the time upfront to gather important paperwork in one place can save you hours, days, WEEKS of stress down the road.

Types of info you need:

• Key contact’s names and numbers, including their financial planner, doctor, attorney, CPA, pet sitter, housekeeper, neighbor, siblings, realtor, clergy
• Passwords to bank, computer, online accounts, garage, Netflix
• Keys to filing cabinet, mailbox, car, safety deposit box, gun cabinet
• Accounts and balances including checking, savings, stocks, mutual funds, IRAs, pensions, annuities, social security benefits, Medicare, military benefits, credit/debit cards
• Value of things owned, such as a business, art, home, vehicles, hobby gear
• Insurance info: health, home, auto, life, long term care
• Subscriptions, driver’s license, passport
• Prescriptions and pharmacy, medical history including allergies
• Monthly Budget
• Monthly Bills, including automatic bill paying arrangements
• Outstanding loans
• Birth Certificate, Will, Trust, Marriage License, Adoption Papers, Boat/Car/Plane titles, Employment or Contractor Contract
• Family photos correctly identified (possibly for funeral slide show or future generations) and memorabilia collected

Collecting important information in one file or storage bin is ideal.

We can help! Click here to request a free 38-page organizer: Send me the organizer

How to Get Your Parents to Cooperate

No one wants to talk about parents needing more help. It can be uncomfortable and even confrontational. But aging is a part of life. Acknowledging and preparing for the inevitable changes ahead is hard but can alleviate more tension and chaos later.

Tips on working with your parents:

• Ask questions. You can start by mentioning you are planning for retirement and wondered how they approached this. You can ask questions like, “How much should we save? What is your approach to long term care?”
• Explain that you want to come along side and help them prepare and best live out their golden years. Take the role of a servant, not a dictator.
• Remember they are still your parent. Speak kindly
• Ask questions like “How do you see this evolving? What are you most concerned about?” Perhaps they are more worried about falling or cooking than their finances. What is on their bucket list, and how do they hope to live out their golden years? By the grandkids, traveling? Really listen to their answers. It’s their life after all, and there is more than one way to do things.
• Give them space. Aging is a process. Everything doesn’t need to be completed immediately.
• Yes, tasks must be completed, but when your parent knows they are loved, even difficult steps like moving out of their home can be endured. Take time to enrich your relationship by doing things you enjoy together. Call and text regularly. Write encouraging notes, sharing fond memories and expressing your gratefulness and love for them.
• Patience, patience, patience.