Benefits Check Ups for the Elderly: Why It's Never too Early to Consider

If our parents live long enough, we all will be faced with assisting them as they grow older. My parents are nearing their mid 80s, and are starting to need more assistance. They just recently completed a will, and are now looking at their financial affairs and health matters. On my last visit home, I mentioned that they might be healthy and with us for many years to come. However, it is never too early, for any of us at any age, to do what my parents are doing - completing a benefits check up. A complete benefit check up would include a look at finances, insurance, agencies that can assist or programs available to the elderly, plans for illness or death, and a look at Medicare and Medicare insurance plans.

According to a pamphlet put out by CVS pharmacy, you can log onto their home site and get assistance with just such a plan. They have a benefits check up questionnaire on their site for free at www.benefitscheckup.org/cvs. After completing the questionnaire, you will receive an email or response stating what you might need help with. While my parents do not have a computer, we are doing this same process by hand. Luckily, I have done social work, so understand agencies that can assist the elderly and resources that might be available.

The first area to look at is finances. Is the income sufficient to provide. My parents are very private about their finances, but assure me that they have adequate income. Their home is payed for and they are lucky enough to have enough cash on hand to basically buy cars with cash. However my parents do prefer to drive older cars, so this saves money also. My father is a retired postman and they both draw Social security. So my parents passed on the first part of the benefits checkup.