Senior Resource Central has tips for you! 

Our guest today is Heather Chubb–an elder care lawyer who specializes in legal planning for members of the Sandwich Generations (parents of young kids who also care for aging parents). Here’s what Heather wants to share with you:

I deal with this question of overwhelm all the time and I actually give my clients a resource through the office that I call a “Grab and Go Kit”. Anyone can create a Grab and Go Kit– and its super important to do so if you want to keep your sanity when caring for aging parents!

Basically, the adult child needs to sit down with the parent and compile all of their important information into one centralized document. You can start by gathering the names and contact information of every doctor, specialist and advisor they have. This could include primary care physicians, all specialists, lawyer, financial advisor, CPAs, etc.

Youll also want to compile your parents personal information including social security number, veterans ID number, health insurance information, etc.

Next, create a page with your parents medical history and all medications currently taken, including their dosage.

Finally, you should collect any important information that you would need if sudden incapacity or memory loss occurred. This includes where they keep their legal documents (ie power of attorney forms, living will), the location of any safety deposit boxes and how to access them, passwords to any online accounts, etc.

The whole point of having this document is so that you are not scrambling to pull root through your parents things and or jumping through hoops to get information if something happens. If mom or dad requires hospitalization, you just grab your kit and you have everything you need at your fingertips. If memory loss occurs, you have all of the information you need to contact their doctors, advisors, etc. and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

All my best!

Heather Chubb is the founder and CEO of Chubb Law Firm, a local law firm specializing in estate planning for the entire family. You may recognize her straight forward and easy to understand legal advice from her appearances on Good Day Sacramento, Fox 40 Live or from articles in the Sacramento Bee and Financial Advisor magazine. She currently resides in Fair Oaks, CA with her husband and two young sons. For more information on Heather Chubb, please visit http://www.chubblawfirm.com

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