A GON Reader Asks:

Dear Maria,

I am in the midst of end-of-life planning and have asked my attorney and a trust officer for a checklist and neither has one. Could you make a checklist please and publish it? Thanks.

This fabulous GON reader 'Ask Maria' question was submitted by:

Nancy Kirk

* * * * *

Maria Gracia responds:

Hi Nancy,

This is something nobody wants to do, but being prepared can help ensure we're not spending the time we have left on earth worried and frustrated...and also gives us peace of mind that our loved ones will be able to grieve, without the burden of questions we never answered or affairs we didn't get in order.

Here is a quick list I researched online:

__ Have a long-term care plan in place, including a plan for incapacity

__ Assign your powers of attorney

__ Create a living will

__ Create any special medical directives

__ Hire a lawyer for transferring of property or assets

__ Have specific instructions for guardianship of minor children, elderly parents, or disabled adult children

__ Make funeral/burial arrangements and handle whatever you can financially

__ Make a list of debts and other obligations, as well as assets

There's likely more than I could answer in this short newsletter. I would recommend you Google 'End of Life Planning Checklist' to be sure you're covering all of your bases.

In addition, I'd like to add some of my personal TO DO recommendations:

1) Who will you give personal belongings/photos to? Start making a list of items and names...and be sure to check with each recipient to be sure he or she can actually use those items. Donate whatever you can, now, as well.

2) Who will care for your pets? Talk to possible family members and friends and make those arrangements.

3) Are there members of your family (kids, spouse, others) that you'd like to leave love letters or videos to? This is a good time to begin creating those.

4) Have you provided someone with all information (including your user names and passwords) to all vital web sites, accounts, etc?

5) Are all of your funeral planning papers and life insurance documents in one place and easy for your loved ones to locate quickly?

6) Is someone in your family assigned to handle your social media accounts, and does that person have your user names and passwords to these? In Facebook, you can assign someone to be your legacy contact.

7) Have you created a draft of how you'd like your obituary to read? A rough draft, at least, could be very helpful to your loved ones.

8) Are there keys you have to disperse to loved ones? For a safety deposit box, house keys, storage rental keys, combination locks, po box number and combinations, etc.?

9) Have you shared your funeral wishes with loved ones? Would you prefer donations to be made to a special organization in lieu of flowers? Do you want a particular person to deliver your eulogy? Have you created a list of names and contact information regarding people you'd like contacted after you pass away?

10) Have you made arrangements to get together with the people in your life who mean the most to you? For anyone with a terminal illness, have you said your final goodbyes and let loved ones know how much they mean to you?

Thank you for asking this question, Nancy. Again, this is a subject that most people avoid at all costs, but when you really think about it, it's a gift to your loved ones for you to be as prepared as possible, when possible.

Maria

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'Without guidance and support for patients and families approaching death, there may be unnecessary conflict, confusion, and trauma that linger long after the passing of a loved one.'
--Lisa J. Shultz




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Warmly,

Maria Gracia
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