When your parents get older, there are certain topics that need to be discussed in order to properly plan for later life. The four most important topics to touch on are living arrangements, medical coverage, estate planning and finances.
Living arrangements can be the most difficult topic to discuss, but it is important to understand that at one point your parents may no longer be able to take care of themselves. They need to vocalize what they would like in the future so that you can accommodate when the time comes.
Medical coverage can be an easy topic to cover. You need to be sure to have the names and phone numbers of every doctor and specialist your parents go to so that later in life, one can properly choose a perfect medical coverage plan.
Estate planning includes many sub topics. It is easiest to hire an elder law attorney so that you get organized about after life planning and much more. Another way to be prepared is to talk to your parents about where they have their legal documents so that you are always aware and ready in case you need them.
Financial plans are the most important to talk about because this ties into all the other topics of discussion. Knowing what your parents need can help both you and them in the long run and make the transitions easy.