The New York State Bar Association announced on May 21 that it hosted a webinar titled “How to Create an Elder Care Plan Before a Crisis,” the first in its three-part series “Helping the Helpers.” The event was organized by the association’s Committee on Attorney Well-Being and focused on helping families prepare for caring for aging parents or relatives with chronic illnesses.
The topic is important as many families face sudden decisions about health care, legal matters, and housing when an elderly family member experiences a crisis. The program aimed to provide practical advice to avoid being unprepared in such situations.
Emma Soy of Gentle Shepherd facilitated the session, sharing her experience as a nurse assisting families through aging-related changes. “Caregivers are spending, on average, 26 hours a week as a caretaker with more than half of caregivers admitting to reducing their work hours to care for a family member. Many leave their jobs entirely,” she said. “On top of that, the average family caregiver spends about $7,200 a year out-of-pocket as part of that work.” Soy also noted that there are currently 53 million Americans serving as unpaid caregivers for older adults.
Soy outlined five key areas for elder care planning: legal, medical, financial, housing and caretaking. She recommended building an elder plan before it is urgently needed and advised involving professionals such as attorneys, financial planners and nurses or care coordinators. “The best time to build a plan is when your family doesn’t need one yet,” Soy said.
She also highlighted challenges such as reluctance among older adults to discuss finances or living arrangements with their children. Soy encouraged early conversations about resources and preferences regarding aging at home or moving into assisted living facilities. She added: “When you have two or three activities of daily living that you need assistance with, that is when you need to activate long term care insurance… Home health care costs $35 an hour with a four-hour minimum. People need to be prepared for this.” For those who feel isolated in caregiving responsibilities she said: “Many carry the weight of decisions [for a loved one] all alone. When you have others, they can help you carry the load. You don’t have to do this by yourself.”
The New York State Bar Association supports legislative efforts promoting equal access to justice and extends services not only across New York but also internationally; its membership includes individuals from all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide according to the official website.
