 Many questions are being asked as the coronavirus crisis confronts our communities, raising uncertainty, isolation, and the risk of illness. During this health crisis, we are all concerned with ensuring that we will receive the medical care we need and want. Here at Tacoma Elder Care we want to provide you with some important tips to ensure you will be prepared regardless of what might happen to you or your loved ones. Bob Michaels is extremely passionate about providing the best possible legal experience for his clients, and focuses his practice on elder law, estate planning, business, and real estate matters. Bob has been able to provide piece of mind and a solid foundation to many folks in the Puget Sound area over the years and wants to provide resources and relevant information whenever he can. For more information on how Bob can help your loved ones through these troubling times, contact Bob to schedule a FREE consultation. continue reading... 1. Make sure you have all your Essential Legal Documents, including your Power of Attorneys, Healthcare, and Mental Health Directives in one place and up to date. Why? Because without them your loved ones will have to spend countless hours and money to be able to help you should you fall ill. A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows a person, called “Principal”, to share the powers that they have over their finances and property with another person or person(s), who are called “Agents”. A POA Agent is obligated to follow the directions of the Principal, or to act in their best interests. If an Agent breaks this duty to a Principal, it can result in investigations and negative legal repercussions. 2. Get your Will or Trust in place and keep it updated. Why? Because if you die, you want to make sure your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are taken care of. A Will is a legal document that states who will get your belongings after your death, and a Trust outlines your wishes and financial designations. It can feel scary or overwhelming to plan for the possibility that you may not be able to make your own decisions. Planning for these scenarios does not make them more likely to happen, it’s an added protection to ensure you and your loved ones are taken care of in the way you want. 3. Get a budget in place and stick to it.
Why? Because conserving resources is paramount in a crisis. Additionally, getting a list of bills and accounts together and providing access to any online accounts to a trusted loved one, is important in case someone gets quarantined. 4. Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, take your vitamins and get lots of rest. Why? Because you need to limit exposure to this deadly virus and be strong if it hits. The uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus has people making unusual preparations including hoarding everything from hand sanitizer to toilet paper. But what you really need to be doing for yourself and your loved ones, particularly if you or a loved one is age 60 or older, is to stay as healthy as possible. 5. Breathe, be patient, and take this time to get organized. Disrupted routines, financial stresses and uncertainty makes us edgy and stressed. Which is not good for us or those around us. By getting things organized you can rest easier knowing you are prepared regardless of what happens. To do that, make sure you have the following documents in place and ready to go (see below). If you need assistance, or advice, please reach out to Bob Michaels for a FREE consultation. Bob is meeting with folks by phone, virtually, or in person. Contact us today. Medical Information: Medical information is critical to have easy access to. Make sure that you have organized your medical history, medicines, and other key medical information for your loved ones. If you end up in the hospital, this will help ensure you get appropriate treatment quickly and efficiently without delays. Legal Documents: In the face of COVID-19, Google traffic on how to make a will is at its highest level ever. And yes, you should have a will in place but you and your loved ones should also have power of attorney and a health care power of attorney, in case you need a loved one to make a decision for you, should you or your loved ones become unable to make decisions about health care or assets. A health care power of attorney is also important if you have adult children (at college or out of the house); otherwise, you won’t be given access to their medical information or be able to weigh in on your children’s treatments as legal adults. Personal Accounts and Information: Getting a list of bills and accounts together, and providing access to any online accounts to a trusted loved one, is important in case someone gets quarantined and may not have access to take care of day-to-day activities, bills, etc. Make sure that they also have access to keys and alarm codes for your home and office that they can access in case you end up in the hospital and you need a loved one to water plants, feed pets, access work files, etc. There is more that you can prepare, but this is a good start that can really help your family. Getting your information and wishes together can help ensure that if something happens, you are not left without key information and documents that you need. Schedule your appointment with Bob Today. Remember, nobody ever wishes they had prepared less for an emergency. Tacoma Elder Care - Helping families face aging, illness, and disability through estate planning, asset preservation, and life care planning.
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