| A patient of mine returned to the office after | | | | amount should cover your house, your significant |
| two months of not being seen. I had only seen | | | | other's lifestyle and children's lifestyle, college |
| her once, before and I didn't know why she | | | | education for the children, and funeral |
| stopped coming in for visits after that. I left | | | | arrangements (the average cost for a basic |
| messages on her answering machine but did not | | | | funeral is $5000-10,000). |
| receive any return call, and now here she sits in | | | | 7. If you know where you want to be buried and |
| my office today. | | | | you have the money, consider purchasing your |
| As you can imagine, my first question was simple, | | | | gravesite and stone now. Think how much easier |
| "Where have you been and are you okay?" Her | | | | it will be for your loved one that he/she will not |
| reply was a flood of tears. And so today I write | | | | have to worry about that part. |
| this article hoping that her story will help you. | | | | 8. Introduce your significant other to your banker, |
| What happened was that she went to sleep, | | | | CPA, and attorney. Let's hope your marriage is a |
| woke up the next day, and went downstairs only | | | | full disclosure marriage. |
| to find her husband sitting in his favorite chair, | | | | 9. A smart investment to purchase is long-term |
| dead. Gone forever. | | | | health care insurance. This particular insurance |
| His book of life is closed, and now the patient will | | | | product should be purchased as soon as you can |
| begin a new but unwelcome chapter in her life. He | | | | afford it, even if you are in your 30s. The |
| died of a severe heart attack, aneurysm, or | | | | younger you purchase this insurance product the |
| stroke. | | | | cheaper the cost. Long-term insurance helps pay |
| The problem is that he didn't expect to die and | | | | for the care you need when you can no longer |
| had not given his wife any information either | | | | care for yourself. It can protect your family's |
| about his passwords or about his business, | | | | financial future and your own investments and |
| insurance, and bank accounts. It turns out that he | | | | savings. I have had the opportunity to see what |
| did not own the commercial property that housed | | | | can happen to a family and their finances without |
| his business; he had two business credit lines that | | | | long-term care insurance. Most people do not think |
| were tied to his (now her) residence, and he had | | | | that disease and dysfunction will occur in their |
| other property and land with mortgage notes that | | | | lives at an early age, but as we all know, life |
| needed to be met monthly. | | | | doesn't always work according to our plans. Can |
| Here's what you need to know. Life happens and | | | | you imagine the difficulty you would face if you |
| death happens. Death is a touchier subject, much | | | | had to take care of a loved one who was really |
| more than life, but it's a part of life. This article | | | | sick? Do you think you could bathe your parent |
| isn't a discussion about heaven or hell--it's an | | | | or significant other? I know you would like to say |
| article about those you leave behind. | | | | "yes." But do you think you could, physically or |
| You need to prepare for that final dirt nap. If you | | | | mentally? Do you think you could quit your job |
| are married or have a soul mate, he/she should | | | | and provide care around the clock? Do you think |
| know about passwords, bank accounts, business | | | | you have the psychological capability to diaper one |
| deals and obligations, loans, and how to access | | | | of your parents? Or, worse yet, would you want |
| your life insurance. | | | | one of your children cleaning your behind or |
| To avoid the situation my patient experienced I | | | | putting a diaper on you? It truly would not be fair |
| recommend the following action steps: | | | | to them. It would be very taxing physically, |
| 1. Copy all your passwords down and keep them | | | | mentally, and financially. With this type of |
| in files. Make sure your significant other knows | | | | insurance you or your family members will not |
| how to access these files. | | | | have to provide this type of care personally. This |
| 2. If you are married or have a significant other, | | | | insurance will also help with nursing facility care. |
| there is no reason to hide your business deals or | | | | Take a closer look at this type of insurance. I |
| obligations. Make sure your significant other knows | | | | suggest purchasing it when you are young |
| whom you are obligated to pay and who owes | | | | because you'll get a better rate. The premium |
| you money. | | | | rises exponentially as you get older. |
| 3. Consider working with an attorney to set up a | | | | 10. And for those left behind, get help for yourself |
| trust to protect your assets. Many people are | | | | and your family especially if you have kids. Seek |
| creating family trusts for further financial | | | | bereavement counseling. It is difficult to lose a |
| protection. | | | | loved one. I never believe time heals--I just |
| 4. Create a living will. Although some people may | | | | believe you adapt to the situation. |
| consider death a morbid subject, you should | | | | Marcel Proust, the French novelist most famous |
| ideally create a living will where directives are | | | | for his work Remembrance of Things Past, once |
| given regarding keeping you alive. Some folks just | | | | said, "We say that the hour of death cannot be |
| can't let go. What they don't realize is how it | | | | forecast, but when we say this we imagine that |
| affects family members and how much it will | | | | hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. It |
| cost. You should discuss with your significant other | | | | never occurs to us that it has any connection |
| how you feel about medication and procedures to | | | | with the day already begun or that death could |
| keep you alive. | | | | arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is |
| 5. Create directives on where you want your | | | | so certain and which has every hour filled in |
| belongings to go. If possible, create a DVD listing | | | | advance." |
| your directives and give a copy to your attorney. | | | | Last but not least, end every night with an "I love |
| 6. If you don't have life insurance, consider | | | | you," for you never know what tomorrow will |
| purchasing a plan for your family. The benefit | | | | bring. |