Future Care Planning: Concerns of Elderly Parents Caring for a Person With Serious Mental Illness

Although recent advances in early treatment of people with serious mental illness have brought new hope to family members, parents of service users are still often left to worry about their loved one’s future care. Without judicious planning, a parent’'s death can be a catastrophic event that leaves an adult with serious mental illness without supports. This Open Forum emphasizes the benefits of mental health professionals being proactive and helping families and service users address concerns with future care planning. The active involvement of all stakeholders, including the person with mental illness, relatives, friends, mental health professionals, lawyers, and financial planners, can ensure proper care planning and promote better long-term outcomes.