When your elderly loved one begins to show signs of being mentally or physically unwell, you may start to worry. Choosing to plan ahead can often include estate planning.
However, some older people may not show interest in talking about it or may seem hostile when you bring it up. Learning about ways to talk calmly and respectfully about this subject can help you both come to a conclusion about what to do next.
Allow for questions
According to Kiplinger, your parents or older relatives could feel overwhelmed by the new suggestions you make. They may not know how to respond to your concerns or ideas at first, since they may not have heard of any estate planning options before.
Understanding what they want out of this process is important. Asking them where they want their assets to go after their deaths and what they want to happen if they cannot make medical decisions is important.
Pick a place for talking
Choosing to talk about estate planning in a neutral place, such as outside on a back porch or at a restaurant, can help you. When you plan to talk about sensitive subjects like death and money, you should make sure your loved ones do not associate these potentially negative feelings with family visits.
Stay open
Taking into consideration all the different types of communication in a family can help you prepare to talk about this subject. Some people may need time alone to process a conversation, while others may enjoy having many opinions.
Make sure to stay open to all the questions your loved ones may have about estate planning since there is a lot of information to learn about.
