The Milwaukee Post

(StatePoint) — Parents care for and guide children into adulthood. But as par- ents age, sometimes the roles are reversed. Establishing a plan will help everyone feel more at ease about the years ahead. Here are four common concerns you may face with aging parents and tips to manage each conversation. Plan living arrangements Multi-level homes and complicated floor plans can make everyday living difficult and dangerous for seniors. However, con- vincing parents to move into a more man- ageable home or assisted living may be tough. Suggest the transition early, while parents are still active to help them ease into the idea. If they insist on staying put, consider homecare and installing assistive equipment, like handrails. Focus on the road Driving can be a sensitive topic because for many, it's a key part of remaining inde- pendent. Take 90-year-old Vivian Cash who start- ed driving in 1949. While always priding herself on her safe driving — in fact, she's never had an accident — she recently pulled into her driveway and stopped too close to a telephone pole, ultimately need- ing help moving her car. That was when she decided it was time to stop driving. "If I'm driving and I had a problem, I could hurt someone or myself. It just isn't worth it," Cash said. Not everyone will be willing to hang up their keys, so approach the topic before noticeable problems surface, such as with vision or dexterity, and agree to certain warning signs that might indicate it's time to rethink transportation. When it is time for parents to stop driv- ing, help them map out ways to get to all their activities. Update important documents Most people don't like discussing wills and life insurance. As a result, they're often written and not revisited. However, both need to be updated periodically, especially when major life changes take place, like marriage, death or divorce. Ensure your parents have a will that's been updated in the past five years. If not, it should be revised to reflect their current wishes. Establish who will be in charge of executing the details, and determine where documents will be stored. Any updates to wills need to be reflected in life insurance policies, as beneficiaries take precedence over whatever the will specifies. Consider working with a trusted advisor who offers both life insurance and retirement planning, such as an Erie Family Life insurance agent, to ensure par- ents and family members are covered for the future every step of the way. Gather financials Finances need to be discussed — from retirement planning, debt consolidation and payment to logistics like where impor- tant documents are placed (digital and hard copies). Even if parents don't want to divulge all their information, getting a gen- eral sense of the situation will make things easier when decisions need to be made. Help your parents create a list of bank, benefits, pension and other accounts, as well as usernames and passwords. Keep this information in a safe place, such as a fire-resistant safe. Know where items like tax files, car titles and the key to the safe are kept. Aging isn't easy. Address everything now to leave your family at ease for the changes ahead. SENIORS Monkey Business Images - Getty Children can help their aging parents when it comes to planning. January 20, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 Housecalls Thick/Fungus Nails Ingrown Nails Corns/Calluses SENIOR FOOT CARE IN YOUR HOME After 35 years of treating patients in his office Dr. Thomas Marciniak is devoting his practice to exclusively housecalls. Getting to the doctor has often been the reason why minor foot problems have become major problems among our senior population and Dr. Marciniak has decided providing "routine" foot care in the patient's home is the best way to combat the problem of accessibility. "Routine" isn't routine if you are diabetic, or if you have poor circulation or if you don't have the strength, vision or flexibility to properly take care of your feet by yourself. His services are covered by Medicare in most cases and his office accepts Medicare assignment. If you no longer drive or have to depend on someone else for transportation, Dr. Marciniak will be happy to see you in the safety and comfort of your own home or apartment. If you have a question or would like to make an appointment please call our office at 414-427-1999. CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 414.427.1999 WILLS, TRUSTS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, PROBATE Pre and post death planning by a professional with over 40 years of experience. Law Offices of Attorney James J. Winiarski 3625 W. Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee (414) 383-3902 253793044 How to talk to aging parents about the future

• Cover