How to handle mail for my sister who is in assisted living?

When my dad moved to assisted living I also used my home address as his official mailing address and his address as his residence address Usually no one ever asks or needs the residence address. It really doesn't take much to do it as usually there is an option on the bill or website to report a change of address. The post office theoretically will do it for you, and they do forward everything for about a year, but I found that some banks didn't accept the change of address from the post office and I had to initiate it. The hardest ones were Social Security, because Medicare benefits are tied to your address so you need to become what I think is called a 'registered agent'. The other issue I had was with my father's military retirement and it took me over 3 years and innumerable phone calls, letters, faxes, and literally me crying to get them to send me his 1099 for tax purposes. It really wasn't a big deal to get it done (except for the Navy). If you wait a couple of months after you file with the post office you'll be able to see what is now coming with your address on it and what has been forwarded to you and you can contact those that haven't made the change, but do get in touch with Social Security specifically as they have a much more detailed system.

The post office only forwards mail for a year and subscriptions for six months, so you need to notify any important businesses like banks, insurance companies, Social Security, doctors, Medicare, etc. of the new address. Don't assume they'll automatically change it.

I never used the nursing home for any of my mother's mail. I treated it like a temporary situation even though it clearly wasn't. I used her (empty) home address as her legal address for her taxes, but otherwise everything else came to me. I didn't worry about "in care of" stuff -- it was just addressed to my mom at my address. Everything arrived just fine.

If she has dementia and you are operating as her POA, you will find it much easier for you and her to have all her mail sent to you.

I never ran across any reasons that mail addressed to her should go to the care facility except her social mail (greeting cards, advertising if she enjoys looking through it).

After I began to receive my LO’s bills and other important mail on a regular basis, I started to use my last name/her last name and my address. I never had to contact individual businesses to change ANY addresses. The checks I use to pay her expenses say the name of her 2 POAs, her name and my address.

The businesses ALL changed the address automatically after her first set of bills were paid.

Her checking account also receives her Social Security monthly payment directly.

ALL OF HER EXPENSES GO THROUGH THAT SINGLE CHECKING ACCOUNT. VERY EASY FOR IRS AND ALL OTHER RECORD KEEPING!

Stay calm. My LO’s finances are a little complicated, but this part of the process is relatively easy!!