Senior Sunrise

When it comes to apartment living occasional noise from other units is to be expected. Unfortunately, we had an elderly neighbor living above us who was succumbing to dementia. He believed that there was a third occupant living in our apartment specifically harassing him at night. This caused him to blare his music loudly and pound on his floors (our ceiling) in an attempt to drown out this mystery person.

We explained to our neighbor several times that there were only two of us in the apartment; no one had moved in and that we were asleep during the times he believed this person was harassing him. He would look confused, mutter something about his hearing aid acting up, and then wander off. The behavior continued so we alerted adult protective services to see if they could have him evaluated. APS visited his home and is working on a plan with his doctor’s and may recommend that he be moved to an assisted living facility that specializes in care for dementia patients.

We’re often told that death is a part of life, but it’s still incredibly difficult when people lose a close family member. By creating a will or trust, you can free your friends and family of much of the burden that they would otherwise bear in trying to sort out your finances. After you’ve totaled up all of your assets and chosen heirs, you’ll need to find witnesses to watch the signing of the will and an executor to carry out your wishes.

As important as the process of drafting a will and even a living trust might be, it’s equally crucial to find a living will and trust registry that is reputable and whom you feel comfortable with. By registering, you guarantee that those who are close to you can track down its location with ease. That way, when you pass on into the hereafter your friends and family will take the time to honor and celebrate your life rather than running around looking for legal documents.

A lot of people in this day and age are planning for the future. Many people choose to get a Will in place so that their family is taken care of. The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of people that are unprepared. There are ways that you can ensure that your family is taken care of.

You might have heard of a living trust. You might be asking yourself, what is a living trust? A living trust is a relationship between at least two people. It is a way that two people can control assets without legally owning them, an arrangement that keeps the assets out of probate.

When you are planning your life, nobody wants to plan for when they aren’t here anymore. You don’t want your family to have to worry about what to do, when you aren’t here. One thing that you can get prepared is a Will. This is a legal document that allows you to distribute your property to those you choose. A Will allows you to designate beneficiaries to receive specific items from your estate, and other beneficiaries to receive everything else. One of the most important, making sure that your children are taken care of. It gives parents, of minor children, to nominate a guardian.

A living trust is a little different. Wills come into play when you pass on. Trusts can benefit you while you’re still alive. You can make changes to it at anytime. It’s not set in stone. You will transfer substantially all of your property into your trust during your lifetime. Heaven for bid that you become incapacitated or disabled, the trust helps you manage your financial situation as well as set up a power of attorney. Either one that you choose, it’s important to have your affairs in order.

When it comes to preparing for death, there is a litany of facets to consider. Most people remember to make preparations for the funeral, the will and medical assistance, but there is also the mental well-being of the person to account for. When death is imminent, there are dozens of questions and fears that generally pop into people’s minds.

In philosophy, religion, literature and art the phenomenon of death is often explored. However, looking at death in our youth is much different from those who are well aware that they have months or weeks to live. During this time, it is important to be supportive and to work with the person to cope with these inevitable doubts, questions and trepidations.

Establishing a will is virtually a necessity in this day and age, but a living trust is also a sound measure. The first question that people commonly have is “what is a living trust?” A living trust is created during a person’s life and serves as a means to save on taxes and manage property in the long-term.

The main purpose of a living trust is to avoid probate after a person’s death, which is a lengthy and costly process. It will also help reduce estate taxes and streamline the process of allocating the assets. Often times the living trust also has specific directions in the event that the person becomes incapacitated and is unable to communicate their wishes.

Preparing for death can be a sobering experience, but the good news is that once you’ve got the planning out of the way you can focus on enjoying life. No one wants to leave family and friends with a financial and logistical burden after death, and by drafting a living will you can prevent that scenario from ever playing out. The first step is to contact a lawyer you trust – or have a close family member make the arrangements.

You’ll be instructed to compile a list of all of your assets – both real and financial. Real assets include vehicles, homes, jewelry and other tangible valuables. Financial assets include shares in stock, savings bonds and the like. Then elderly planning entails systematically deciding which assets should be bequeathed to what particular inheritor. Finishing this process will give you serious peace of mind.

At a certain point in our lives reality hits, and we realize that time is passing quickly.  We look around us, and not only do we see our sons, daughters, and grandchildren getting older, but we see ourselves aging. 

There are so many questions that follow that stunning reality.  Are my things in order?  Do I have a will?  Should I make a Living Trust instead of a will?  How do I decide who gets what, or to whom do I leave property and/or money   These questions and more can make us few stressed out and anxious.  To be able to decide what to do before it’s “too late” every senior should take the time, with someone they trust at their side, and make a decision about either making a Living Trust or Will.  

The idea of having to do this is sometimes haunting, but the completion of such brings peace and calm.  The positive outcome, of course will be knowing that your personal things, & more have been accounted for not only in your lifetime, but in your death as well.  Your family will know that what you have decided is to be fulfilled, and they also will be grateful that your wishes have been followed. 

Just as you were once totally dependent on your parents, so as they age, they will become increasingly dependent on you.  This can be a joy or an enormous burden.  Here are some ways to help them, without compromising your plans.

1. Walk in their shoes - The hopefully gradual physical decline of old age can be very depressing. Imagine what you’ll feel like when it happens to you.  It will help you understand how they feel.

2. Encourage experimenting - Older people focus too often on what’s no longer achievable. Get them to try new things you know are possible.

3. Agree to the ground rules. - If you don’t want them to ring you every evening for a chat, suggest a time and frequency you can both live with.

4. Accept the gifts - At times, old people seem desperate to give stuff away.  Accept their gifts but be prepareed to return them later if necessary.

5. Keep them moving - Even though the joints might creak and they can not longer run, it’s important to keep them mobile.

6. Don’t take bribes - You might like the idea of your parents buying you a big house so that you can all live together. After 20 years though, it might not be so much fun. 

7. Ignore emotional blackmail - It’s tough, but just because they wiped your bottom when you were a baby, you don’t need to nurse them when they’re old. Help out by all means, but don’t become a caregiver, unless that frms part of your own life plan. As their child they look to you for emotional support, as did for you when you were younger.

8. Hear it again - Old age is a time when favorite anecdotes and stories are shared time and time again.  You need to be patient and let them tell you the same stories again and again.

9. Answers to ultimate questions - Your again parents will be more aware of their own mortality than they have ever been before. Preparing for death   is a scary prospect; encourage them to explore their faith if they have one.

10. Lost some marbles - Remember that the brain fades in old age.  They might not understand how demanding they’re becoming. Remember, emotional support is needed in preparing for death

These days, people spend a great deal of time working in the hope of advancing materially in life.  They worry constantly about the assets that they acquire, what will happen if they go before they are ready. So, what can be done?  We ask, what is a living trust? 

A living trust is an arrangement under which one person called trustee holds legal title to property for another person called a beneficiary. It is simply a trust created while still alive rather than one that is created upon death. There are different kinds of living trusts and each can be helpful in different ways.