• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » 10 Things to Remember as Your Parents Age

10 Things to Remember as Your Parents Age

April 5, 2022 by Stephen Unsworth

Although we do not like to think about it, the reality it that as we age, so do our parents. It can be difficult to watch our parents experience the physical and mental deterioration that accompanies the natural aging process. Naturally, we all want to do something to help – but how do we do that without appearing to interfere? The Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC urge you to remember the following 10 things as your parents age.

  1. Be patient.  Above all else, remember to have patients with your parents as they age. Keep in mind that they probably needed a considerable amount of patience to handle you as you made your way through adolescence!
  2. Avoid discussing death.  Some people prefer to confront the end-of-life head one and have no problem discussing; however, others are frightened and no ready for the end of their life. If you must discuss the topic, try using a term other than “death.”
  3. Your parents are probably worried about money.  No matter how financially secure your parents appear to be, they are probably worried about money anyway. Most people entering their retirement years worry because their ability to earn money is dramatically diminished and the future is full of unknown variables.
  4. Denial is common among aging parents.  Your aging parents may not be ready to face the fact that they are aging. Denial is common among the aging. Gently remind your parents that now is the time to accomplish things that are important to them.
  5. Victims of elder abuse often remain silent.  Experts estimate that as many as 14 instances of elder abuse go unreported for every one that is reported. Talk to your parents about elder abuse to try and prevent them from becoming a victim.
  6. Memory may not be what it once was.  Even if your parents never develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the natural aging process causes problems with memory. Keep that in mind.
  7. Technology may be intimidating for them. Technology is everywhere in the 21st century. For older individuals though, it can be very intimidating. It can also be a tool used by predators and scammers. Give your parents some basic tech tools to use and explain internet security to them.
  8. They probably won’t ask for help.  Your parents are likely proud people who have managed to get through life without much help up to this point. The idea of asking for help, especially from their own children, probably doesn’t sit well with them. Find ways to offer that help that allows them to keep their dignity and independence when possible.
  9. Your parents may be eligible for state/federal benefits.  Many seniors know very little about the various state and federal benefits to which they may be entitled because they never needed those benefits. Now, however, they may qualify for assistance from programs such as SNAP (Food Stamps) and Medicaid. They may also be eligible for additional help from programs such as the Veterans Aid & Attendance if one of them served in the military.
  10. Educate yourself about long-term care options.  When your parents enter their retirement years, they will each already stand a 50 percent chance of eventually needing long-term care (LTC). Educate yourself about the cost of that care, options for paying for LTC (such as by qualifying for Medicaid), and what facilities in the area have a good reputation. Doing so will make talking about the options much easier if the time comes when LTC is needed.

Contact the Essex Junction Elder Law Attorneys

For more information, please attend one of our upcoming FREE webinars. If you have questions or concerns about how to navigating elder law issues as your parents age, contact the experienced Essex Junction elder law attorneys at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC by calling 802-879-7133 to schedule your appointment today.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen A. Unsworth is admitted to practice in both Vermont and Maine, and has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and business law. His mission is to provide quality estate planning services, including assistance with Living Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Planning, and Family Limited Partnerships.
Stephen Unsworth
Latest posts by Stephen Unsworth (see all)
  • Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility? - October 20, 2022
  • Senior Care Options - October 18, 2022
  • Is an Oral Will Valid in Vermont? - October 13, 2022

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Elder Law

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Essex Junction elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont
Planning for the “Silver Tsunami”
Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
More than Just Salad Dressing: The Ongoing Saga of Newman’s Own Foundation
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.