Were so used to our parents living independently that we dont always notice when they begin to struggle with handling daily activities. Changes can begin gradually as they start to slow down, or they can happen quickly, when a parent has an unexpected diagnosis or accident. No matter if you live across town or across the country, proactively creating a senior life plan for your parents will give you peace of mind and allow them to continue to live their lives to the fullest.  Communication Approaching aging parents about planning their senior years can be a touchy subject for everyone involved. As a general rule, it is recommended to start having these conversations by the time youre in your forties, or theyre in their seventies (known as the 40-70 rule). Of course, you know your parents' habits and personalities best, so you are the best judge of their physical and mental health. Here are some factors that can determine the appropriate time to initiate this conversation:         Start the conversation early, using the 40-70 rule, so you have time to make or change plans based on your parents' needs         Create a comfortable and open environment for the conversation         Plan more than one conversation so you can cover all possible issues         Take notes so you remember what was discussed and can keep track of next steps         Keep a list of all their passwords for accounts such as computer, email, phone, and cable Create a Caregiving Plan A caregiving plan will ensure everyone is on the same page about the care needed and how it will be handled as your parents age. If they require additional care, consider how you can support their needs. This might involve coordinating with local caregivers, hiring professionals to assist with certain tasks, or, if you dont live nearby, planning regular visits to spend time with them.         Have a caregiving plan ready in case your loved ones need in-home care         Discuss changes to your parents healthcare needs with their doctors          Research different caregiving options         Find out if your loved one has any specific needs to maintain their health and happiness   Health and Medical CareA senior life plan starts with understanding your parents health statuses and medical needs. When they are in excellent health, its essential that their care and treatment preferences are detailed in a living will or advanced directive and discussed with family members. Have this conversation now, during the planning stage, rather than during a medical emergency.         Designate a healthcare proxy who can speak with doctors on your loved ones behalf and make healthcare decisions, especially if they are hospitalized         Keep a list of their medications up to date, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and vitamins         Keep a list of your parent's doctors and specialists, including their contact information          Ensure they are following their doctors advice and taking medications as prescribed         Make a note of the closest urgent care facility and hospital         Get to know their primary care physicians          Discuss your parents latest check-ups and help schedule upcoming appointments          Encourage your parent to write a living will or advanced directive and keep a copy on file Safety and Living ArrangementsMost seniors want to remain in their homes as they age, connected to family, friends, and community. If your parents are able to continue living at home, consider home remodeling options to help them safely age in place. In addition, develop an emergency plan with your parents and make sure they know what to do in case of a natural disaster or other emergency.         Evaluate the safety of their home and make modifications if necessary         Review any mortgage or financial concerns about the home         Check in regularly, either in person, or by phone or video chat         Consider long-term care insurance in case long-term care is ever required         Develop an emergency plan and list of emergency contacts Social and Support NetworkA strong social support network helps keep seniors healthy and active and gives them a sense of connection, belonging, and purpose. This support can include neighbors, friends, or other family members who can assist your loved one if needed. If possible, foster connections with their support network to have reliable contacts in case of emergencies.         Encourage your parents to stay socially engaged and participate in activities that bring them joy         Check if your parents have a support network in their local community         Keep the name and number of a neighbor who can regularly check on your loved ones         Create a schedule of friends and family who call or regularly video chat          Ensure your parents have access to reliable transportation when needed, especially if they dont drive Review FinancesDiscussing finances can be tricky. Seniors sometimes want to keep their financial information private, even from family members. Reassure them that they can keep exact dollar amounts confidential, but make sure you have access to the information if you need it. Have them assign a Durable Power of Attorney (POA) to someone who can make financial decisions on their behalf. When going over how your parents would like their finances handled, topics to discuss include outstanding debts, homeownership, savings, and retirement funds.         Find out what financial accounts are open and where they are held          Make a list of advisors contact information          Ensure they are making informed decisions about retirement, investments, and insurance         Stay up to date on Social Security benefits          Check that beneficiary designations are current         Make sure your loved ones have a POA representative         Streamline bill paying by setting up automatic payments          Ensure they know how to avoid scams Gather Legal Documents Discussing and taking care of legal issues while your parents enjoy good health can ensure everything is planned and understood. Make sure you know where your parents keep their personal information and important documents in case you need them. Go over everything together and meet with their estate planner so you can ask questions about their wishes and how to ensure they are carried out.         Discuss important documents and where they are stored         Find out if your parents have a will and a living will, and where they are located         Make sure their POA for finances and healthcare proxies are in order         Read through their estate plan/will to make sure beneficiaries and responsibilities are correct and up to date Review Insurance PlansRegularly review your parents insurance policies. Its essential to know if their policies are adequate, up to date, and where the accounts are located. This information can help avoid undue financial burdens during medical emergencies or accidents.          Make a list of active insurance policies such as auto, home, health, long-term care, etc.         Review homeowners, auto, and life insurance policies to ensure they are adequate and up to date         Review health insurance coverage for any policy changes that need to be made based on current or future needs  Aging Parents Checklist Although caring for an aging parent often means taking on financial, legal, and other responsibilities, it can also be a time to reflect on happy memories and plan for a future that includes more joyful moments. The aging parent checklist below can help you ensure youve got all the bases covered when it comes to life planning and the next steps for your aging loved ones.  Although caring for an aging parent often means taking on financial, legal, and other responsibilities, it can also be a time to reflect on happy memories and plan for a future that includes more joyful moments. The aging parent checklist below can help you ensure youve got all the bases covered when it comes to life planning and the next steps for your aging loved ones.    Communication          Have the conversation early so you have time to make or change plans based on your parents' needs          Create a comfortable and open environment for the conversation          Take notes so you remember what was discussed and keep track of your next steps          Keep a list of all their passwords for accounts such as computer, email, phone, and cable Health and Medical Care            Designate a healthcare proxy who can speak with your loved ones doctors and make decisions          Keep an up-to-date list of all their medications, including over-the-counter, supplements, and vitamins          Keep a list of their doctors and specialists, including their contact information           Ensure they are taking medications as prescribed          Make a note of the closest urgent care facility and hospital          Get to know their primary care physicians           Help schedule upcoming appointments           Encourage your parent to write a living will and keep a copy on file Ensure Safe Living Arrangements          Evaluate the safety of their home and make modifications if necessary          Review any mortgage or financial concerns about the home          Check in regularly, either in person, or by phone or video chat          Consider buying long-term care insurance          Develop an emergency plan and list of emergency contacts in case of a natural disaster or other emergency Create a Caregiving Plan          Have a caregiving plan ready in case your loved ones need in-home care          Discuss changes to your parents healthcare needs with their doctors           Research different caregiving options          Find out if your loved ones have any specific needs to maintain their health and happiness  Social and Support Network            Encourage your parents to stay socially engaged and participate in activities that bring them joy          Check if your parents have a support network in their local community          Keep the name and number of a neighbor who can regularly check on your loved ones          Create a schedule of friends and family who call or regularly video chat          Ensure your parents have access to reliable transportation when needed, especially if they dont drive Review Finances          Find out what financial accounts are open and where they are held           Make a list of advisors contact information           Ensure they are making informed decisions about retirement, investments, and insurance          Stay up to date on Social Security benefits           Check that beneficiary designations are current          Make sure your loved ones have a POA representative          Streamline bill paying by setting up automatic payments           Ensure they know how to avoid scams Gather Legal Documents             Discuss important documents and where they are stored          Find out if your parents have a will and living will, and where they are located          Make sure their POA for finances and healthcare proxies are in order          Read through their estate plan/will to make sure beneficiaries and responsibilities are correct and up to date Review Insurance Plans          Make a list of active insurance policies such as auto, home, health, long-term care, etc.           Review homeowners, auto, and life insurance policies to ensure they are adequate and up to date          Review health insurance coverage regularly for any policy changes that need to be made as needs change Review Insurance Plans          Make a list of active insurance policies such as auto, home, health, long-term care, etc.           Review homeowners, auto, and life insurance policies to ensure they are adequate and up to date          Review health insurance coverage regularly for any policy changes that need to be made as needs change   Comfort Keepers Can Help This checklist gives seniors and their families a way to confidently and purposefully navigate the next few years. We offer resources with helpful information and insights that help you care for your loved ones so they can experience all that life has to offer. And if they need in-home care, we can provide compassionate care that focuses on connection and purpose and experiencing more joy every day. To learn more, contact us today.

PaperworkPaperworkWhat Should I keep? Sorting through the paperwork of a deceased loved one is a daunting task. It is important to know what to keep and what to discard. Here are some helpful tips.  Deeds, Titles and Vehicle RegistrationsDeeds and titles to property may not be obvious on the face of the document so it is important to read everything carefully. Keep anything that has a legal description (Lots and Blocks or Metes and Bounds), a vehicle identification number (VIN), contains the word title, deed of trust or warranty deed.  ReceiptsSome property does not have a title such as a tractor, farm equipment or certain recreational equipment. In such cases, keep the purchase receipts for this type of property. It will be useful if there is a question about ownership, the value of the property or the date it was purchased.  Bank RecordsSave all bank records and statements. These will be valuable if a dispute arises about ownership of an account, payments or distributions made from the account and to whom. Shred unused checks.  Retirement AccountsSave all statements and records pertaining to the decedents individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) plans or pension plans.  Life Insurance PoliciesSave all life insurance policies.  Social Security Paperwork and Earning StatementsSave information about the decedents Social Security account or earning statements.  Cancel the Decedents Credit Card Accounts Nowadays, identity theft is a huge issue. Contact Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to report the death of your loved one. Request the credit report be flagged as Deceased. Being proactive prevents a lot of hassle later on.  Cancel all credit cards in the deceased persons name. Also, there may be questions about the credit card purchase of certain items or property. Save credit card statements until probate of the decedents estate is complete.  Documents that contain the decedents Social Security NumberIf you find any documents with the decedents Social Security Number and you make a determination that the documents are not going to be saved, make sure it all gets shredded.  Tax RecordsKeep the decedents tax records. There may be a question about real property valuation, exemption or other issues that can be resolved by information in a tax return.   Loan PaperworkKeep all loan paperwork including loans on property or a loan the decedent made to a relative, friend, individual or organization. This may show that there is outstanding debt or money owed to the decedents estate.  Business AgreementsSometimes people have business agreements that have been documented in writing. Such agreements may contain a succession plan, what should happen with business equipment or property, or what should happen upon the death of a business partner.  Military RecordsSave all military records just in case there are benefits owed to a survivor such as a spouse, dependent child or disabled child. Some benefits are dependent upon verification of military service during war time which occurred prior to the advent of computer records. This includes photographs taken during wartime.  Birth and Marriage CertificatesSave all birth and marriage certificates. Again, for certain benefits for survivors, such certificates may be needed.  Timeframe for Keeping PaperworkIt is advisable to keep these potentially important documents until the estate of the decedent is settled, at a minimum. Otherwise keep them at least seven years and longer if possible, especially if real estate is involved.  Contact Your AttorneyYour attorney will ask you pertinent questions and give you advice about what records to keep.  You should also review your own estate plan documents to make sure they are up to date and reflect your current wishes.  This article was written by Donna A. Schuyler, Attorney, who practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianship, and probate. Donna Schuyler Law, PLLC; elderlawboise.com. Phone 208-344-1947

A  Will or Trust: Which is Best for You?When it comes to deciding whether a will or trust is best for you, it is important to understand your options and which one is most appropriate for your situation.WillA testamentary will (simply referred to as a will) is a legal document used to transfer an estate to beneficiaries after the death of the testator (a male person making the will) or testatrix (a female person making the will). Within the will, the testator or testatrix usually names a personal representative (same as an executor) for the estate. For a will to be valid in Idaho, it must meet specific requirements under Idaho law. Revocable Living TrustsA person, during his or her lifetime, may create a revocable living trust whereby the grantor (the person making the trust), trustee (the person who has legal authority to manage the trust assets) and beneficiary (the person who makes use of the trust assets) are all the same person.  After the grantor dies, depending on the trust instructions, the trust assets may be distributed outright or held within the trust and distributed over time or upon the happening of a designated event. Revocable living trusts may be appropriate for persons who own real property in more than one state or have a blended family where spouses have children from prior relationships.Testamentary Trusts A testamentary trust is a trust within a will. A testamentary trust is created upon the death of a person as specified in his or her will. The testamentary trust holds assets within the trust instead of outright distribution to a beneficiary. A common scenario is when parents create a testamentary trust to hold assets for the support of minor children or for college education for children until they reach a specified age. A testamentary trust can also hold assets for the special needs of a disabled child who receives government benefits. Does Having a Revocable Living Trust Eliminate Probate?To avoid the probate process, all assets must be transferred into the name of the revocable living trust. A common misconception is that a list of assets attached to the trust document accomplishes a transfer to the trust. However, the correct way to transfer assets requires an actual change to the title of assets including a home, certificate of deposits, bank accounts and brokerage accounts. Upon death, any assets titled in the name of an individual, not the trust, will be subject to the probate process. For this reason, when a person creates a revocable living trust, it is best to also create a will, called a pour-over-will, as a safety net to assure that upon death any assets titled in the name of an individual are transferred to the trust and distributed accordingly. In Idaho, generally speaking, the probate process can be quite simple and relatively inexpensive.A New or Updated Estate PlanWhether a will or trust is appropriate for you depends on your circumstances. If you already have a will or trust, it should be reviewed periodically to make sure it reflects your current wishes and needs or upon any significant change in your life such as divorce or death of a spouse or beneficiary. Other important estate planning documents include a general durable power of attorney, living will and durable power of attorney for health care. This article was written by Donna A. Schuyler, Attorney, who practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, elder law, and guardianship. Donna Schuyler Law, PLLC; www.elderlawboise.com; Phone 208-344-1947