Julia was worried. “I’m telling you, Mom had a big bruise on her leg when I visited her yesterday at the nursing home,” she told her sister, June. “She says she doesn’t remember how it happened. When I asked a nurse, all she said was, ‘Oh, your mother is always falling. She doesn’t always use her walker.’ Mom doesn’t have…
Linda and her friend, Mary, walked through the apartment at the retirement village. It was the perfect space for a single adult who didn’t want to deal with the responsibility of home ownership. “There are a number of different units available, with a wide variety of amenities,” the real estate agent said. “Because this is a continuing care retirement community,…
Laura was worried about her 80-year-old mother. “She gets around well enough, but sometimes she needs help with household tasks, such as cleaning, grocery shopping, and laundry,” she told her friend, Debra. “And she claims she can’t afford to hire someone to help. But neither can I. And if she doesn’t get the help she needs, she may have to…
When Anna approached her 80th year, she decided it would be wise to add her daughter Amy’s name to her checking account. “After all,” she told her children, “she already pays my bills and does my grocery shopping. What happens if I become ill and can no longer sign the checks? Someone has to have access to my bank account…
It began on a sunny Saturday morning, when 70-year-old Sandra Johnson’s phone rang.
“Sandra, Sandra Johnson?” the caller asked.
“Yes, that’s me,” she responded.
“I’m pleased to inform you that you have won the Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, a grand prize of $1 million! Unfortunately, when we went to your address to deliver the check, no one was home. Before we go further, could you verify your address for me?”
Aunt Minnie may appear to be a little flighty and forgetful, but does that mean she is incapable of creating and legally executing (signing) a will? The answer is complicated. The preparation of an estate plan, which may include a will, trust, and/or other documents, involves many steps. Assets and liabilities must be identified and decisions need to be made…
No one likes to think of this subject but the reality is that anyone at any age can be struck down by injury or illness. Two of the fastest rising maladies in the United States are dementia and stroke. Incapacity may be either temporary or permanent. The issue then is who will step into a person’s shoes and manage their…
For anyone with aging parents or loved ones, the prospect of finding someone to assist that person at home when the time comes can be a daunting task. Even before that time comes, convincing a parent that they need help at home is a challenge. Most elders resist anything that threatens their independence and they fundamentally do not want strangers…