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This section provides information relating to topics covered in the organizer. Additional insights will be posted weekly.
If you have a question or would like to see a certain topic covered, send a note to the author through the contact page.
Just Do It
posted on June 12, 2022
Why did I write When The Time Comes?
My passion for writing this organizer was to help families prepare for an unforeseen medical crisis, a sudden or unexpected deaths, or even a death due to chronic illness or old age.
Over the years, I have witnessed families torn a apart over decisions that needed to be made regarding their loved one's health crisis. At a time when families needed to be holding on to each other for strength and hope, too often, there was bickering and animosity within the family. Even in the best of situations, there were still differences of opinion, different philosophical beliefs, and uncertainty if they were…
Category:
Having "The Talk"
It Just Makes Sense to be Prepared
posted on May 30, 2022
It Just Makes Sense to be Prepared!
You know, deep down, that preparing for end-of-life issues, or a medical crisis needs to be done, but you just don't want to dwell on the subject. Rationalizing, “I have plenty of time to prepare” “It's so morbid to think about” “It's an overwhelming task” “I have so many files to go through” “I'm still young”. We tend to find so many excuses not to prepare until it's too late and we wish we had taken the time.
If you have never had the responsibility of seeing to the daily needs and providing care for someone with dementia or other life-altering situations, or had the responsibility of administering an…
Category:
Getting Started
Home and Vehicle Information
posted on May 21, 2022
There are many disease/illness/accident-related situations that render a person temporarily or permanently incapable of handling their own affairs. This could be a sudden onset of symptoms or something that slowly progresses over time.
Over the years, I have worked with clients who have experienced cognitive issues related to traumatic brain injury from a fall or motor vehicle accident. Others who have experienced a stroke or brain tumor. While others progress along the pathway of dementia. All of these individuals required someone to step up and either maintain or take over their affairs. Some may recover to normal functioning while…
Category:
Home, Vehicle and Personal Property
Personal Items
posted on May 21, 2022
Do you ever walk through your house and see some small item sitting on a shelf, or a tool in your workshop, or a piece of jewelry in your jewelry box that makes you smile because it brings back a memory?
Not long ago, my 8-year-old granddaughter was visiting our home and asked if she could see “our rings.” We went to the jewelry box and I pulled out “our rings.” She was mesmerized by their beauty! She placed her ring on her finger and I placed my ring on mine. We held our hands up together and she said, “Mimi, we should wear these today!” So off we went with our oversized, red ruby heart-shaped rhinestone rings with adjustable tarnished…
Category:
Home, Vehicle and Personal Property
Reasons to Talk
posted on May 3, 2022
Take a few minutes and ask yourself these questions. Regardless of your age, are you prepared to handle a medical crisis or an incapacitating injury, that affects you or a family member, if it happened today? Are you prepared if an unexpected death happened to you or a loved one today?
Have you ever been responsible for managing an estate after someone has died?
Not just going in and helping a family member for a day or two to clean out grandma's house, but rather, being fully responsible for the entire process.
Have you ever been responsible for the day-to-day care of someone who is mentally incapacitated from dementia, a stroke, a…
Category:
Having "The Talk"
So many stories!
posted on April 20, 2022
Oh, the stories I could tell..... Between my own personal experiences of helping clean out houses after a person has died and the stories others have shared over the years when they have done the same, I could write a book! Oh wait. I did!
The number one reason I created When The Time Comes is to help individuals and families not go through the arduous tasks that everyone seems to face after a medical crisis has incapacitated someone or a death has occurred.
Here are just a few of the bizarre, but not as unusual as one would think, situations I have come across or been told about.
-A grandmother use to hide money in the hems of clothing…
Category:
Other
Prepare for the Unexpected
posted on April 9, 2022
When The Time Comes ---The past few years have certainly been a difficult to navigate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, the United States has seen 1,011,665 deaths related to COVID-19. Worldwide the total is an unbelievable 6,200,266 deaths. How many of these deaths were expected? You would anticipate some of these folks would have died due to other illnesses or advanced age. The staggering reality though is that many people, who were otherwise healthy and often young, also succumbed to COVID-19.
If we only had a crystal ball and could predict when tragedy would strike. When serious illnesses would come upon us or a loved…
Category:
Medical and End of Life
Questions and Answers
posted on April 4, 2022
Here are a few more questions and answers that have been asked.
Question: Since I don't have children or grandchildren, what will happen to my dog when I die?
Answer: In the section titled Pets in the organizer there is a question: What are your wishes for your pet in the event of your death? Start now by asking others if they might consider adopting your pet in the event that you become incapacitated or die. You might also contact pet shelters in the area to ask for information on how others have handled this. List your preferences but also be sure to have the conversation with your representative so that they know your wishes prior to…
Category:
Other
Questions and Answers
posted on April 4, 2022
Over the past several weeks I have had the opportunity to present the content of my organizer, When The Time Comes, to several different groups. With each presentation comes questions from individuals regarding the material or questions specific to their needs. Over the next few weeks I will share some of the questions asked.
Question: I have Power of Attorney (POA) papers but they were issued in another State. Are they still valid in Indiana?
Answer: Not all States recognize POA, Health Care Directives or other legal documents drawn up in other States. Check with a local attorney to see if the documents need to be rewritten.
Question: I…
Category:
Legal and Accounting
Importance of Medical History
posted on April 4, 2022
Many years ago, I was employed as an RN in a large medical practice. Part of my job was to bring patients back to an examination room, fill out a medical history and medication form. This was prior to the online systems we have today where you input your medical history and insurance information yourself prior to your appointment.
The vast majority of time, people could not tell me the names of their medications or why they were taking them. Often, the answers would be, “I take a little white pill for my heart and a blue pill for my stomach.” It was not unusual for my patients to not know or understand any significant medical history of…
Category:
Medical and End of Life