A column in The New York Times today revealed that nearly 30% of adult children contribute to their parent’s care, on average spending $2,400/year. The expenses can cover everything from unpaid medical expenses to daily chores like stocking a refrigerator.  The time and expense of caring for an aging parent can be a large stress on adult children– financial and emotionally. However, as the article notes, there are many sources that can help reduce the burden.

For some seniors who continue to live in their homes, a reverse mortgage can serve as a possible solution, providing another source of income to help pay for medical bills, adult day care, and the like. Another important point raised in The New York Times column is that there are a number of other resources available to assist seniors and their families, which are often inadvertantly overlooked. The column talks about the services that can be provided by a geriatric care manager, who can help assess a family’s needs and put the family in touch with the appropriate resources.  Lawyers and geriatric care managers can also be a resource to help families navigate the complex red tape and bureacracys that sometimes surround senior programs.

One of the biggest takeaways I gathered from the article is that there are a variety of programs that seniors can qualify for, even if their income is over $100,000.  Another is the importance of planning ahead.  The article discusses, power of attorney, for example. As seniors and their families think about the future, issues like power of attorney, long term care insurance, and wills should be addressed sooner rather than later.