August 2020 - K.T. Williams Law

Many of us may take independent living for granted. It may not be until we reach an age where living on our own becomes difficult that we even begin to consider the possibility of moving into an assisted living facility. When, however, is the right time to move into an assisted living facility? Let us discuss some clues that it may be time to make this transition.

The decision to move to an assisted living facility can be such a big one and it can be, therefore, important to be honest in your self-assessment. If you do not think you can be objective about your circumstances, seek the advice of trusted friends or family. Having said that, it may be time to move to an assisted living facility if:

You no longer drive and have to rely on others for transportation
You no longer participate in activities you once enjoyed
You no longer socialize as much as you once did
You feel lonely and/or isolated
You are having trouble managing routine tasks

It may also be time to move to an assisted living facility if you are having trouble doing “simple things,” such as:

Making nutritious meals on a regular basis
Grocery shopping
Household chores (vacuuming, dusting and so on)
Yard work (mowing the lawn, raking leaves, shoveling snow, etc.)
Doing laundry
Showering, shaving, dressing, etc.
Keeping track of and taking your medications
You no longer feel safe at home

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it may be time to consider relocating to an assisted living facility if you no longer feel safe living on your own. You may feel this way if:

You recently fell and were injured
You have had more than one fall
You have a new medical condition or an existing medical condition is getting worse
You do not have a personal alert system to summon help if you are incapacitated
You forget to turn off the stove and other appliances after using them
You are afraid to use certain household appliances
Your home is not equipped for aging in place

The bottom line is that your health and safety is important. There is no shame in admitting that you need help with things that once came easily or that you no longer feel safe living on your own. The right assisted living facility can provide you with a safe, secure environment where you can socialize with other residents and participate in activities you once enjoyed.

Since making this move often has both financial and legal implications, it can be important to consult qualified professionals prior to making any commitments. As always, we are here to address any questions and concerns you may have about this critical step.

Most parents are used to taking care of their children’s medical needs. They might even assume that they can continue caring for a child once he or she leaves for college. Did you know that this may not always be the case? In fact, parents who fail to secure certain health care estate documents may be in for a terrifying surprise in the event of an emergency.

Once a child reaches age 18, he or she is legally considered an adult. That means all bets are off as far as how parents may have previously dealt with their child’s health needs. Without certain legal documents, parents could be locked out of an adult child’s medical information and be prevented from making important health decisions. With COVID-19 surging and colleges expected to reopen in the fall, the risk of an infection and hospitalization makes health care planning imperative.

Let us take some time to discuss three critical health care estate items to have in place for your college kid:

1. HIPAA Release. Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, a person’s medical information must be kept private unless an authorization form grants access to specific individuals. The form, known as a HIPAA release, is essentially a permission slip for disclosing sensitive medical information. If a college student designates his or her parents, they can be kept abreast of important medical developments and communicate with their adult child’s doctors. Limiting conditions can also be implemented to certain information, such as mental health counseling or reproductive health records.

2. Health Care Surrogate. While a HIPAA release can keep parents in the loop about important medical information, it does not provide the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of an adult child. That power would come from a separate document called a health care surrogate. This would allow the parent to make health decisions if the adult child was incapacitated or unable to make competent decisions.

3. Living Will. A living will is a form of an advance medical directive. It is a legal document that specifies the actions that should be taken under specific circumstances such as a terminal of end-stage condition. It specifies, specifically, what medical treatment should or should not be withheld.

A college health emergency may be a nightmare scenario under any circumstance. With COVID-19 surging, however, particularly among young adults, securing these estate documents will help parents and students be prepared. Contact our office for help navigate these challenges.

When is it Time to Move into an Assisted Living Facility?

3 Health Care Documents Every College Student May Need, Especially During COVID-19

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