Author's Insights

Questions and Answers

Three Important Questions

 

  1. Regardless of your age, are you prepared to handle a medical crisis or an incapacitating injury that affects you or your loved one, if it happened today?
  2. Are you prepared if an unexpected death happened to you or a loved one today?
  3. Have you ever been faced with making medical or financial decisions on behalf of a loved one?

Having worked with individuals and families for over 40 years facing these situations, I can attest that few people are truly prepared. Some may have the most common legal documents like a Will, Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Representative in place, but that is just the tip of the iceberg of what you will need to know or have prepared for your loved ones or representative when these situations arise.

The majority of people have never discussed with their loved ones or representative their personal finances, healthcare wishes, or end of life decisions. We tend to put these difficult discussions off thinking we will do that later in life.  We are much too young right now!

Yet, everyday we read or hear stories about people in their 30's, 40's 50's, 60's who have been in accidents, diagnosed with a terminal illness or experience a debilitating medical event, been victims of violence or other unexpected tragedies.  No matter our age, tragedy can strike.  Health issues will arise.  Accidents will happen. 

So how do we prepare? 

  1. We begin by taking the time to think about what our personal wishes are when these scenarios arise.
  2. We begin organizing our personal and financial information: banking, taxes, investments, digital information such as passwords/logins, real estate, insurance, home and vehicle, personal belongings.
  3. We seek out an attorney to create a Will, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Representative or other legal documents depending on the size of your estate. Regardless of age, these are important documents to have in place to identify who can speak on your behalf and how your affairs are to be handled before and after death.
  4. We sit down with our loved ones or representatives to discuss these matters. You, or your loved ones, may find this conversation difficult to initiate. Rarely have I found anyone who regretted having the discussions once they occurred. Most people, on both sides of the discussion, voice a great deal of appreciation and peace of mind after “the talk” has taken place.

We never know what tomorrow will bring!  Take the time now to prepare this information for your loved ones or representatives. This could be one of the greatest acts of love you give to your family!  Preparing will help alleviate the stress of difficult decision making when a medical crisis arises, as well as, eliminate weeks/months of work for your family/representative when working through your estate.

It truly is an act of love! 

 

 

DISCLAIMER:  The author of When The Time Comes does not claim to be an expert in the fields of banking, investments, accounting, insurance, real estate or law. The author does not provide legal advice. The information contained in this binder comes from the personal experience of the author working with families and individuals over the past 40 years as a registered nurse, health advocate, POA, Guardian and through pastoral care. Readers are advised to contact experts in the respective fields listed in the binder for additional information.

© 2022 Carol Havens | All rights reserved
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