50+ Lifestyles

Your Advocacy Connection

By Gail Glockhoff-Long
GolderCare Solutions
Benefits Advocate

We Solve Long Term Care Problems

Planning for the Inevitable

I was visiting with a cousin who lost her husband a few years ago. She discussed how unprepared many of her friends were when they became widowed. My cousin and her husband had planned together for years knowing that one of them would die before the other. With his cancer diagnosis, they put the finishing touches on the plan to make the transition as easy as possible for her. He even had some home repairs done early so she would not have to deal with them.  Her friends commented on not knowing how to pay a bill because the husband always did that.  They were lost, scared, and vulnerable to predators.

We have experienced this in our office when the money person has a stroke or advanced dementia and neither the spouse nor the children know about the current finances, assets, insurance or income. The already complex job of applying for benefits becomes much more difficult.  We have had families delay the benefits process for months because they are still discovering additional life insurance policies and investments.

Couples often divide tasks with one person always doing this set of tasks and the other doing a different set of tasks.  That works when both are able to do their part.

What happens when the bill payer dies or the cook develops Alzheimer’s?

Each January is a new beginning – when we tackle tasks that we have put off. This January, put Life Skills on your list. Sit down with your partner and share how you do tasks so they will be able to step in if you are temporarily or permanently unable to do things. You might also consider taking a class at the Black Hawk College or one of the senior centers. The odds are that you will not both be physically and mentally able one day and both gone the next. The odds are one of you will be the caregiver or the survivor.  Planning for the inevitable will lower the stress level for both of you

Both members of a couple should know:

Financial

• Know how to pay bills
• Know all of your financial / investment institutions and your contact person
• Know what mail is important and what is a scam – we had one client that had 5 expensive car maintenance plans for a car that she no longer drove – it came in the mail so she signed up

Insurance

• Know what each of you have for life insurance and how to contact the company or agent
• Know what each of you have for medical insurance / Medicare supplement / Drug plan
• Know what company and agent you use for home owner’s insurance and auto insurance
• Know what and if you have long-term care insurance
• Know how and when to contact the insurance company about a claim

Household

• Know how to do laundry
• Know how to prepare a basic healthy diet with protein, veggies, fruits, sides
• Know who and how to call for maintenance on furnace / appliances / lawn / snow removal
• Know how to hire a home remodeling or repair person

Vehicle

• Know where to go for car repairs
• Know who to trust when you need to replace your car

Everyone needs to know who they can trust for advice.  For placement and cost of care issues, GolderCare is that trusted advisor.

GolderCare Solutions is an independent advocacy group for seniors, the disabled and those that care for them. GolderCare has offices in Moline and Bettendorf. You can reach GolderCare at (309) 764-2273 or learn more at www.goldercare.com.