Morning Air host John Morales has firsthand experience caring for aging parents when a sudden fall, a medical diagnosis, or “another unexpected event” throws a family into crisis. Overnight, he said, “families suddenly find themselves overwhelmed by confusing laws and tough decisions” they never thought they’d face, so he turned to elder-law attorney and author Paula Omgren for help.

Omgren explains that elder care isn’t just “about care,” but a maze of five connected “buckets”: legal, financial, medical, housing, and hands-on support. Step one is knowing the money and getting estate-planning documents in place, especially for incapacity. “Those are the like two steps one, the financial and getting the legal documents in place,” she says, so families — not courts — can make decisions if a parent can’t.

Because most seniors want to remain at home, Omgren urges families to think ahead about safety. Small changes can prevent big injuries: move the mailbox, pay extra for driveway garbage pickup, bring the washer and dryer to the main floor, add motion lights for nighttime trips, and removing or replacing throw rugs.

When home is no longer safe, she walks through options: assisted living with meals and activities, independent communities with a daily meal and wellness support, continuing care retirement communities that follow you through every level of care, and nursing homes for those who truly need skilled care. All of it is expensive, so she encourages early conversations, especially for “solo agers” who must build a circle of trusted advocates.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Morning Air host John Morales has firsthand experience caring for aging parents when a sudden fall, a medical diagnosis, or &ldquo;another unexpected event&rdquo; throws a family into crisis. Overnight, he said, &ldquo;families suddenly find themselves overwhelmed by confusing laws and tough decisions&rdquo; they never thought they&rsquo;d face, so he turned to elder-law attorney and author Paula Omgren for help.
Omgren explains that elder care isn&rsquo;t just &ldquo;about care,&rdquo; but a maze of five connected &ldquo;buckets&rdquo;: legal, financial, medical, housing, and hands-on support. Step one is knowing the money and getting estate-planning documents in place, especially for incapacity. &ldquo;Those are the like two steps one, the financial and getting the legal documents in place,&rdquo; she says, so families &mdash; not courts &mdash; can make decisions if a parent can&rsquo;t.
Because most seniors want to remain at home, Omgren urges families to think ahead about safety. Small changes can prevent big injuries: move the mailbox, pay extra for driveway garbage pickup, bring the washer and dryer to the main floor, add motion lights for nighttime trips, and removing or replacing throw rugs.
When home is no longer safe, she walks through options: assisted living with meals and activities, independent communities with a daily meal and wellness support, continuing care retirement communities that follow you through every level of care, and nursing homes for those who truly need skilled care. All of it is expensive, so she encourages early conversations, especially for &ldquo;solo agers&rdquo; who must build a circle of trusted advocates.
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The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.