for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until yo

As a small business owner you have probably prepared, at least mentally if not on paper, for the most obvious crises that can strike a business. You probably have several kinds of insurance. You have data backed up, and you have multiple forms of communication available in case something goes down. If you're really prepared you have your own possible disability covered, and you have a succession plan.

Last, but certainly not least, is the potential risk that aging parents can pose to your business. If the phone were to ring tonight with the news that there is an emergency, and you are needed now, are you prepared? Do you even know what you need to know to get prepared?

If you haven't given this any thought, and if your parents are still living, you may one day have an unexpected parent care situation on your hands that could put you out of business.

A little preparation now may avert a future disaster. Here are five steps you can take to be better prepared:

1. Do you have someone who can step in and run the business on a temporary basis if you must be away? This may already be part of your business plan (it should be). If not, do you have a spouse, another relative, a trusted advisor, even a friendly competitor who won't steal you blind who can cover temporarily? Until you do, create an emergency playbook with all the information you might need to grab in a rush. Keep client and other important contacts, passwords and codes (disguised if necessary), and other critical information up to date and accessible in your pda or a notebook that comes home with you every night.

2. Find out from your parent(s) where they keep important financial information. In a crisis you might need to locate Medicare or Social Security Cards, other health policies, health directives, bank statements, pension and investment information, birth, marriage and military documents. If you or your parent are not comfortable discussing the finer points of their financial affairs, at least you will know where to look for information in an emergency. Of course, the more deatiled financial information you can obtain now, the better.

3. Do your best to have your parent(s) prepare advanced planning documents. The most important for you as a potential caregiver are Powers of Attorney for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until you

u are needed now, are you prepared? Do you even know what you need to know to get prepared?

If you haven't given this any thought, and if your parents are still living, you may one day have an unexpected parent care situation on your hands that could put you out of business.

A little preparation now may avert a future disaster. Here are five steps you can take to be better prepared:

1. Do you have someone who can step in and run the business on a temporary basis if you must be away? This may already be part of your business plan (it should be). If not, do you have a spouse, another relative, a trusted advisor, even a friendly competitor who won't steal you blind who can cover temporarily? Until you do, create an emergency playbook with all the information you might need to grab in a rush. Keep client and other important contacts, passwords and codes (disguised if necessary), and other critical information up to date and accessible in your pda or a notebook that comes home with you every night.

2. Find out from your parent(s) where they keep important financial information. In a crisis you might need to locate Medicare or Social Security Cards, other health policies, health directives, bank statements, pension and investment information, birth, marriage and military documents. If you or your parent are not comfortable discussing the finer points of their financial affairs, at least you will know where to look for information in an emergency. Of course, the more deatiled financial information you can obtain now, the better.

3. Do your best to have your parent(s) prepare advanced planning documents. The most important for you as a potential caregiver are Powers of Attorney for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until yo

do you have a spouse, another relative, a trusted advisor, even a friendly competitor who won't steal you blind who can cover temporarily? Until you do, create an emergency playbook with all the information you might need to grab in a rush. Keep client and other important contacts, passwords and codes (disguised if necessary), and other critical information up to date and accessible in your pda or a notebook that comes home with you every night.

2. Find out from your parent(s) where they keep important financial information. In a crisis you might need to locate Medicare or Social Security Cards, other health policies, health directives, bank statements, pension and investment information, birth, marriage and military documents. If you or your parent are not comfortable discussing the finer points of their financial affairs, at least you will know where to look for information in an emergency. Of course, the more deatiled financial information you can obtain now, the better.

3. Do your best to have your parent(s) prepare advanced planning documents. The most important for you as a potential caregiver are Powers of Attorney for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until yo

edicare or Social Security Cards, other health policies, health directives, bank statements, pension and investment information, birth, marriage and military documents. If you or your parent are not comfortable discussing the finer points of their financial affairs, at least you will know where to look for information in an emergency. Of course, the more deatiled financial information you can obtain now, the better.

3. Do your best to have your parent(s) prepare advanced planning documents. The most important for you as a potential caregiver are Powers of Attorney for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until yo

for health care and finances, so that you or someone they appoint can manage their health needs and financial affairs if necessary. Without an appropriate Power of Attorney you might find yourself in a courtroom attempting to get the legal authority to do what needs to be done. This can be ruinously expensive, can cause family dissention, and can needlessly consume weeks of time you might not have.

4. Find local emergency backup ahead of time. If your parents live at a distance you might benefit from having someone on stand-by to be "feet on the ground" until you can get there. In most metropolitan areas you can find an experienced Geriatric Care Manager who will respond and advocate for your parent in an emergency. Interview several by telephone (there should be no cost or obligation for this). Have your chosen Care Manager meet with your parents to collect information and establish a "base line." The Care Manager will then be prepared to represent you at practically a moment's notice. He or she will want to revisit regularly to remain current and to advise you of any growing concerns.

A Geriatric Care Manager will also be able to stay involved after a crisis, so that you can return to your business with the confidence that your parents are being monitored and assisted.

Geriatric care management is something you or your parent will pay for privately. Fees generally range between $85 and $125 per hour, depending on location. Consider this to be a valuable business investment. You can locate qualified Geriatric Care Managers at their professional website: www.caremanager.org.

5. Investigate long-term care insurance for your parents if they are still relatively healthy. Long-term care insurance will cover costs of care that are not covered by private health insurance or Medicare, such as help with bathing, dressing, meal preparation and all the tasks of daily living. The cost of an annual premium may well be less than the cost of purchasing care for 30 days. If your parents cannot afford the premiums, consider investing in this insurance for them. Having long-term insurance in place will enable you to cover the cost of care you might otherwise have to either pay for or provide yourself.

Prepared business owners know that not every crisis can be averted, but a little advance planning can keep a short term crisis from turning into a long-term catastrophe. Choosing to avoid the issue now because "they are doing fine" is a guarantee that you won't be prepared when the parent care call comes. And come it will, one day. Like everything else in your business plan, choosing to be prepared for elder care in advance is the key.