Caring for Aging Parent

France provides comprehensive support for elderly care through départemental social services and national benefits. Begin legal preparations while your parent has full capacity: establish procuration at their bank (free) for financial management and consider mandat de protection future at a Notaire (€200-500) - this designates who manages affairs if parent loses capacity, avoiding lengthy court-appointed tutelle (full guardianship) or curatelle (partial guardianship). Create directives anticipées (advance healthcare directives) expressing end-of-life wishes. The cornerstone benefit is APA (Allocation Personnalisée d'Autonomie) from Conseil départemental for people 60+ with dependency: apply with medical certificate using Grille AGGIR assessing dependency on GIR scale (1=most dependent, 6=independent) - GIR 1-4 qualify. APA amount depends on GIR level and income, covering: aide ménagère (home help for cleaning/meals), equipment, accueil de jour (day centers), or contributing to EHPAD (residential care home) costs. For maintien à domicile (keeping parent at home), APA funds SAAD (home care services) providing daily living assistance. EHPAD costs €1,500-4,000/month depending on facility and département - APA contributes to dependency costs; if income insufficient, ASH (Aide Sociale à l'Hébergement) from Conseil départemental can help, though may involve family obligation alimentaire. Carers have rights: congé de proche aidant provides up to 3 months unpaid leave (renewable) with AJPA (Allocation Journalière du Proche Aidant) of €63/day for maximum 66 days total. Droit au répit gives APA recipients €500/year for respite care allowing family carers breaks. CLIC (Centre Local d'Information et de Coordination) provides free local advice on services, rights, and care options.