When you have a plan in place, decisions will be yours and not made for you if you find yourself incapacitated. One of the very best things you can do for yourself as you age is to create a plan for your finances and medical decisions.
Here at Senior Care of Sacramento, we can help you get your affairs in order and establish a long-term care plan. We can help sort through the legal documents, explain what they mean, and guide you toward the resources that best fit your needs.
When you take control of your own future, you may find peace of mind knowing your wishes can be understood and honored.
Below is a collection of legal planning questions, answers, and glossary information to help you better understand the planning process.
Review these resources, then contact us to begin creating your personalized legal and long-term care plan. We are here to answer your questions and connect you with trusted resources.
Common Legal Planning Questions
Planning ahead allows you to make important financial and healthcare decisions before a crisis occurs. Having the proper legal documents in place can help protect your wishes, reduce stress for family members, and make it easier to manage care if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
This Legal Planning Q&A covers common questions about Durable Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, POLST forms, Medi-Cal planning, long-term care planning, and other legal terms families frequently encounter while planning for aging.
To learn more, explore our resources on Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, and POLST.
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Additional Legal Planning Resources
Legal planning involves more than preparing documents. It also includes understanding long-term care options, financial planning, and ensuring your healthcare wishes are clearly documented.
Learn more about choosing someone to manage financial decisions in our Durable Power of Attorney guide.
For healthcare decision planning, visit our Advance Health Care Directive page and the related blog article for additional guidance.
If you’re making decisions about life-sustaining treatment, our POLST resource explains how these medical orders work alongside advance care planning.
Families planning for long-term care expenses may also benefit from reading about the Medicaid Look-Back Period and Medical Expense Deductions for Assisted Living Costs.
For additional educational resources about protecting assets and planning for the financial aspects of aging, visit SavingSeniorsSavings.com, where Therese Johnson shares information to help families prepare for long-term care decisions.
Prepared by Family Caregiver Alliance in cooperation with California’s Resource Centers, a statewide system of resource centers serving families and caregivers of brain-impaired adults. Revised November 1999. All rights reserved.
FAQ Section
What is a Durable Power of Attorney?
A Durable Power of Attorney allows someone you trust to manage financial and legal matters if you become unable to do so. Learn more on our Durable Power of Attorney page.
What is an Advance Health Care Directive?
An Advance Health Care Directive allows you to document your healthcare wishes and designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if necessary. Visit our Advance Health Care Directive resource for more information.
How is a POLST different from an Advance Health Care Directive?
A POLST is a medical order used for individuals with serious illness or advanced frailty, while an Advance Health Care Directive is a legal planning document that expresses future healthcare wishes. Learn more on our POLST
When should legal planning begin?
It’s best to complete legal planning documents before a medical crisis occurs. Early planning gives you more control over future healthcare and financial decisions.
When is professional dementia care appropriate?
If caregiving becomes overwhelming or safety is becoming difficult to manage at home, professional dementia care services can provide additional support for both seniors and caregivers.
