Advisors such as an elder care attorney, financial planner, accountant, geriatric care manager or aging life care expert can provide invaluable guidance and support as you and your loved one organize their affairs.

If there are existing estate planning documents, such as a will or living trust, make sure they accurately reflect your loved one’s current wishes. If they don’t have any, explain how these documents can help protect and allocate their assets.

A living will is a document that outlines your loved one’s wishes for emergency care if they are unable to communicate those desires themselves — for example, whether and when life-sustaining treatment should be stopped.

Also known as a health care surrogate, this document grants a trusted person the authority to make health care decisions on a loved one’s behalf if that person is unable to communicate or make decisions themselves.

A financial POA authorizes a designated party to manage your loved one’s finances if they can no longer do so. The details may vary depending on what is outlined in an individualized POA, but it may allow the authorized person to pay bills, submit insurance claims, and perform other financial tasks.

Verify that your loved one lists up-to-date beneficiaries and insurance policies on their financial accounts. If updates are needed, help them gather information such as beneficiaries’ addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth.

A trusted contact is someone a bank or other financial institution can call about suspicious account activity or if they are unable to reach your loved one directly.

Gather documents in one central spot. Let trusted family members know where they are kept. Consider using a fireproof and waterproof document bag or safe. Be sure to use a lock if non-family members have access to your loved one's home.