Your CartOh, 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 which required the family to inspect every piece of clothing before disposing of it. At least the family was aware of this and knew to check the clothing. They also found money behind a drop ceiling tile above the bed.
-A father who loved sitting at his home desk left notes everywhere regarding his wishes. Small scraps of paper and long hand-written notes (in pencil that had faded over the years), were found in odd draws, cigar boxes, shoe boxes, on the closet floor covered by other household items. Not a single piece of paper could be thrown out without looking at what was written on it. Unfortunately, many of his wishes could not be met because it was after the fact when they were found.
-An older gentleman who worked at a recycling center after retirement, brought someone else's junk home because he “might be able to use it someday”. The family had to have a large dumpster delivered to clean out the garage after his passing returning all the items to the recycling center.
-A home was in such poor condition with filth and waste that a decontamination unit had to be brought in to remove the items. Prior to that happening, the representative had to inspect the home, find and remove, all pertinent information regarding this person. This was done in a decontamination suit, respirator, gloves and goggles.
-A granddaughter helping clean her grandmother's house before moving to a nursing home, found an “adult toy” that belonged to her grandmother. Needless to say, both were mortified when asked what it was!
-A man who was well into his third marriage, suffered an unexpected massive stroke that was not going to be survivable. Third wife wanted him on life-support. Children from previous marriages knew he did not want to be on life support but the documents could not be located. After days of searching every nook and cranny of his home, a Living Will was finally located under a pile of “things” in a night stand. The man was taken off life support but the battles were just beginning since the adult children were also the estate representatives. Months and months of battles, and even law suits, between family members ensued.
I can't tell you how many times people have told me about (and I have experienced) important documents such as life insurance policies, savings bonds, cashier's checks, cash, legal documents, secret bank accounts, personal property distribution list, and on and on, have been found in closets, in cigar or shoe boxes or plastic tubs, in attics, basements and garages. Often, these important documents were mixed in with junk that would normally be tossed without looking.
I could go on and on but bottom line, take the time now to prepare for When The Time Comes