Level 10

Older clients

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
March 2, 2026
1 reply
3 views

My older clients, meaning 80+, get confused. I give them paperwork and they don't know how to find information that I consider to be simple. Example: I sent an organizer to an 85-year-old but he is looking at the statements behind the 2024 1040 for the information he needs to provide for 2025. For older clients, I think I need to review their information in person. I want to do that. But my time is an issue. Cost too is a consideration. My policy until now is to charge $50 per trip for a home visit. That probably should be more.

Tips? Experiences?

Tax Talk

IRonMaN

Level 15

I've been lucky over the years. Other than a handful of exceptions, whenever I have had someone struggling like that, there typically was a family member or close friend that jumped in to help.

Slava Ukraini!

BobKamman

Level 15

What @IRonMaN said. I have an 87-year-old client who was finding it difficult to deal with a tax-related question. I started putting a lot of time into solving it, before I realized that she has a 65-year-old son who is ready, willing and able to deal with it. Meanwhile, if you have a client who is a vulnerable adult without family or friends, what is your legal and moral responsibility?

S

strongsilenceAuthor

Level 10

"what is your legal and moral responsibility?"

I think I'm getting better at recognizing cognitive issues compared to confusion from loads of paperwork. This client is the latter.

Good advice.

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