Starting an open and honest with us will help create a plan that covers everyone’s needs

Discussing end-of-life care can be a daunting conversation to have with your loved one, and it can be uncomfortable to bring up. However, it’s easier to make informed decisions together, as opposed to spur of the moment decisions independently if one of you suddenly needs care. Each of you might have different preferences when it comes to addressing the challenges of aging, and your choices could significantly impact each other. Getting on the same page today, when you’re less pressured, can make you both more confident about what tomorrow may bring.

Before you broach the topic of long term care, it will help if one or both of you gather information from the sources listed below. It may be helpful to start the conversation by creating a list of the questions you’d like answered.

Family: Find out what your family members might already have in place.

Friends: Ask friends and people in your community what long term care plans they’re either considering or have already made.

Parents: The parents and step-parents of you and your loved one could be a good source of advice. Ask them what has proven to be effective for their needs thus far and what they might have done differently.

Long Term Care Professionals: Go online or in person to investigate the cost and quality of long term care for assisted living, residential care and nursing facilities near you.

Professional Advisors: The professionals you already use for other guidance can be a good source of insight on long term care possibilities for both of you.

As you start the discussion for long term care, it might be helpful to create a checklist to guide the conversation. You will want to discuss your preferences, learning lessons from colleagues or parents, your existing plans and resources, and how to plan for long term care should one or both of you require it. This will be an ongoing conversation, and might require investigation and research to seek out options suited for your desired lifestyles.

By taking the time to plan out your future needs and desires, both of you will be equipped with a plan to handle the uncertainties of the future.