Don and Sandra, a professional couple in their late forties, were just waiting for this to happen. But they weren’t nearly as prepared as they thought. Don’s elderly mother had been exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s and was growing worse. Don and Sandra were troubled with the prospect of having to move his mother to a nursing home. And to make matters worse, she lived alone in a state 1,500 miles away.

"We didn't know if we could handle it"

What were the financial implications of this move and of her long-term care? With all their available assets, Don and Sandra still wondered if they could handle it. They initially brought their financial concerns to us. And what they’ve been receiving since that time has changed their lives.

The reason is that we respond to financial questions in human terms, not with facts and figures, or charts and graphs. A program from SEI isn’t designed around your money, it’s built around your life. You and your family comprise the single greatest asset in the equation. It’s the only way we know to present an option, or develop a program that truly supports your goals.

We asked Don and Sandra the one question none of their current advisers thought to ask: “What makes you so sure your mother even needs to be in a nursing home?”

The answer was, she didn’t.

With the help of an eldercare specialist enlisted by us, Don and Sandra were given a plan of care that helped them best deal with the inevitable progression of his mother’s illness. It was determined that as long as she was closely moni-tored, Don’s happily independent mother could continue living in her own home.

An advocate was assigned to report the status of Don’s mother’s condition on a regular basis, and to make sure she took her medication and visited her doctor for scheduled appointments. We lent support to Don and Sandra through the painful emotional transitions that were anticipated as his mother’s health deteriorated. For example, finding someone to compassionately take away her car keys when it became unsafe for her to drive.

Don and Sandra now had a clear plan that allowed them to maintain his mother’s dignity and ongoing care, and with far less sacrifice to their careers than they had anticipated.

The truth is, most couples with the responsibility of caring for an aging parent are not as prepared as they think. And neither are they as prepared to take care of themselves. We’re all expected to live longer. But with longer life comes increasing uncertainty and greater responsibilities.

How should you address these kinds of life and wealth issues? Any professional can tell you the financial implications of long-term care, but what about the human implications? How will the quality of life change and what can you do to extend your happiness along with your financial reach?

"SEI even lent us support through the painful emotional transitions that we hadn't anticipated. "

These are the questions we examine every day for our clients. Questions that become more rather than less complicated, as we grow older.

Don and Sandra now count on us to be the eyes and ears of the future. Our relationship is for the long term. After all, what good is a guide who doesn’t explore all the routes? Their lives are better for it, and so are the lives of all our clients.