For some things in life there are no second chances, like being
prepared for an emergency or crisis. Once the unexpected happens,
it's too late to put into place the safeguards necessary to
keep your life in order and get the help you need until you are
on your feet again. When the inevitable occurs and you have
had an emergency or crisis which leaves you unable to take care
of your day to day life or the children and pets who depend on you
for some period of time...
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO: |
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YOUR HEALTHCARE:
Do you have a Healthcare Power of Attorney in place to designate who you want
to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to
make them yourself for some period of time? Do you
have authorizations in place to allow designated individuals
to have access to your medical insurance, Medicare or Medicaid
so they can act as your insurance advocate if you are unable
to fulfill that role for yourself? (Note that not even spouses
can assume that role without written authorization.)
Do you have authorizations to allow friends and other non-family
members to be in your hospital room if you can express your
wishes yourself? Do you have a Living Will in place
so someone you trust will make the most important of all
medical decisions for you when you are unable to make it
yourself?
Do you have written authorizations in place to allow specified
persons to seek medical care on behalf of your
children and have access to their medical records if necessary
as well as to talk to their doctors, teachers, coaches,
or others who wouldn’t otherwise be able to discuss
your children with them because of new privacy laws? If
your children were to travel with friends or family without
you, do you have authorizations available allowing others
to care for them in your absence, both inside and outside
of the country?
CAREGIVING INSTRUCTIONS:
No matter how long you, a family member, or a friend are ill or incapacitated, it is important that there are written care instructions so that multiple people can help to provide that care. Even when there is a primary caregiver, everyone needs a break and written instructions make it easy for many people to lend a hand when needed.
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YOUR HOUSEHOLD:
Do you have written instructions
in place to let those people you have specified know what
needs to be done around your house or apartment like picking
up your mail (including from your post office box), water
plants, contact a housekeeper or lawn service, etc.?
YOUR SMALL BUSINESS:
Do you have written instructions
and authorizations in place so that those people you
designate will have the knowledge and legal authorization
to undertake any and all actions that you specify to keep
your business running until you are able to take over again
yourself? Do you keep a written list of all of your
business passwords for your voicemail and e-mail accounts
so others can return your business messages and other things?
YOUR FINANCES:
Do you have an up-to-date list
of all of your important financial information like your
credit card accounts, all loans and mortgages, all of your
bank accounts, investment accounts, all monthly bills and
expenses, a list of all of your insurance policies,
written authorizations giving those you specify the legal
authorization to either actually pay any bills that you list
or to contact designated companies or individuals to tell
them of your circumstances and request forbearance until
you are on your feet again?
YOUR ESTATE:
When you die, will those who you
have left behind know where to find your important papers,
insurance policies, your bills, financial assets as well
as loans, mortgages, and financial obligations, where to
find your safety deposit box and key, and all of the other
information they will need to take care of your final wishes? Will those you leave behind when you die know which individuals and organizations you want notified upon your death and how to get in touch with them? Do you have detailed written instructions regarding your funeral, burial, memorial service and other final requests and special instructions?
YOUR PETS:
Do you have authorizations and
instructions to authorize others to seek medical care for
your pets as well as specific care and other instructions? If
you live with a roommate, do you have written instructions
letting people know who you want to care for your pet(s)
if something should happen to you?
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LIVING
SMART SOFTWARE allows
you to prepare for the unexpected easily and inexpensively.
You get an Emergency Contact Information Card and an Emergency
Action Planner Organizer with the purchase of a CD. Together,
they create a simple yet effective emergency response system. Put
the names and phone numbers of trusted friends or family
members on your Emergency Contact Information Card and keep
the card in your billfold or wallet. Then be sure to
tell the people listed on the card where you keep your Emergency
Action Planner Organizer.
In the event of an emergency, the people listed on your card
will be contacted and they will be prepared to immediately
access the information, instructions, authorizations and
documents in your LIFE PLANNER Organizer
to give you the help you need when you need it most. |
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