Ohio Department of Aging
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Have a Frank Conversation with Dad on Father's Day
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Father's day is June 15. Not only is this a great opportunity to celebrate Dad and thank him for all he has done, it is also a good time to have an open and honest conversation with your father about his health and also his plans and preferences about long-term care.
These are not easy discussions to have and too many families put them off due to embarrassment and not wanting to pry into Dad's business. But if you don't know your father's preferences, you may have to make tough decisions in a hurry without enough research, with limited resources and without knowing what your father would really want, should an emergency happen.
It may not be easy talking about these issues, but doing so when the family is all together and has the time to carefully explore available options can be a rewarding experience.
Men are 25 percent less likely than women to have visited the doctor within the past year and are 38 percent more likely than women to have neglected their cholesterol tests, according to a 2005 survey. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
Father's Day is a good time to remind your father about the importance of preventive medical testing and that the best way to take care of those he loves is to take care of himself. By actively participating in his health care, he is helping to ensure he will be there for his family as long as possible.
While you are talking, families should also ask Dad if he has advance directives, such as a living will and durable power of attorney, that specify his wishes should he be unable to make decisions for himself.
Also, do you know if your father has a plan to pay for long-term care at home or in a facility if he should ever need it? Long-term care can be expensive and the sooner he examines the available options and makes choices, the sooner he and his family can start to build the resources to pay for his preferred choices.
Ohio's aging network is here to help families plan for their loved ones' long-term care needs.
Ohio's Best Rx program, included on his Golden Buckeye card, may help Dad save money on his prescriptions. More information is available at www.ohiobestrx.org or by calling toll-free 1-866-923-7879. He may also be able to get discounts on dental, vision and other specialty medical care through Golden Buckeye. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com for a list of participating business in Dad's community.
The Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman can answer your questions about advance directives and point you to resources for creating them. Call 1-800-282-1206 for more information.
Ohio recently joined the national "Own Your Future" campaign, which features a free, Ohio-specific, long-term care planning guide available at www.longtermcare.gov. The guide examines multiple aspects of planning, including a discussion of long-term care insurance.
Trained professionals at your father's area agency on aging can help him identify his needs and find appropriate resources. Call 1-866-243-5678 to be connected to the agency serving your father's community and ask for a free personal assessment.
While you are talking with your father, you will undoubtedly identify ways to make this process easier for you and your family. It is never too early to plan.
Ohio Department of Aging