When you are a senior living alone with little or no family the messages posted here by caregivers can be distressing. Is this the wrong venue to ask how independent, single seniors can prepare (as much as they can) for being alone and needing care under various health conditions. For example, should one enter a care facility before absolute need? Can you plan for management of your last days through an institution or legal entity? Trust and funds becomes a major issue, of course.
I would so appreciate hearing what seniors (who are alone) are preparing for their final years.
1. I want to 'age in place' - am stubborn on that.
2. Cost of housing ANYwhere isn the US that is close to needed hospitals and medical care is far too costly to move. So I stopped being "cavalier' about just selling and leaving. Will stay in crappy old cottage that I love.
3. I KNOW what I want in my will, anything left is for several great charities i support, so no relatives to work with. So I met with a lawyer and am in the process now. the WHO sells your house, disposes of all your 'stuff', who sells your car, settles the last bills, bank account closing and etc? That can be handled by a NEW service for we singles ...
4. a PROFESSIONAL FIDUCIARY- this is a newer, serious/safe trained and certified person-not lawyer, but can be a CPA trained in this too... who handles much of the above for you. HERE IS MY RECENT EXPERIENCE:
- it costs NOTHING for first exploratory visit- then a flat fee to meet to hash out what you need to do, then NO cost at all until you need services years later, or after an emergency hospital stay-so animals are cared for and fed, bills paid, they have your house key, etc. They do ANYthing you would do as you normally do-usuallyfor a fee-split in 1/6 hour increments, as a lawyer does and filling in all my wants, and they make sure nothing is missed,, up to including FINDING and overseeing HOME HEALTH Care for you after a surgery, if you need 24/7 care, where you go, etc. etc.. I will need ALL of that. So I am sitting down in a few weeks to go thru all my wishes.
-I interviewed 2 local companies, one was not able to do all I needed, one was warm and much more clear on what they do.
-They communicate with the lawyer, are cheaper per hour, do what lawyers cant. and NO DRAMA, with relatives unable to do the job of executor, etc.
I ALSO just got brave and really thought about organizing death/burial, etc. I know what I don't want, there are new 'green burial' options, our cemetery explained the options, by phone, not gone there yet.. I also called the local business that accepts your body from the hospital or ?, and follows your wishes. and I prefer cremation I think, no embalming if buried in wicker/simple wood box. Took me a while to think the thru.
So thats where I am, LOVE to hear from others.
I do have smaller SS, I try to live on that and not touch savings, so I accept keeping an old (safe) car, not spending to remodel this old cottage. keeping things simple.
you can also look up the CA organization to see the info. www.fiduciary.ca.gov
more states have this too so please look for your state.
many of us will be in the same situation