How to Help Your Aging Parents Get Their Papers in Order
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
If your parents are getting up there in age, perhaps you can lend a hand by starting a conversation with them to find out the following:
- insurance (Medicare/Medicaid number, other policies)
- doctors (names and contact information)
- medical history (medications, allergies, conditions, procedures)
- identification (Social Security, military ID, driver’s license numbers)
- address list (friends, neighbors, family)
- service providers (attorney, financial advisor, clergy, accountant)
- financial (account numbers, checkbook, investments, tax records)
- legal (wills, powers of attorney, health care directive)
- deeds (house, other property, car title, boat title)
- insurance (life, medical, auto, homeowner’s)
- household (mortgage, apartment lease, property tax records)
- vital records (birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree)
- final wishes (organ donation, burial, property distribution)
And here is a detailed list of other things you will need to know.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Rhea – this is such good advice. I really hope your readers take it. Don’t assume that parents have taken care of all of this already. A 69 year old bank customer that I worked with last week has no will, is married and has assets/debts to leave behind.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Glad you like this, Micki. I am amazed at the person you describe who has nothing ready.
April 17th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
[...] But these are the kinds of papers that everyone should be able to put their hands on readily when needed. [...]
April 17th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for the reminder. It’s a great list for anyone to use as an index to their own important documents.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:04 am
This is hugely important. I work for a medical equipment company and I am always surprised at the children who have no understanding of their parent’s Medicare coverage, equipment needs, etc.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am
This is good information, especially for caregivers. Thank you.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
[...] these are the kinds of papers that everyone should be able to put their hands on readily when [...]
August 20th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Not possible. You MUST be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in order to get a tax break from the donation. If someone “donated” their car to you, it is considered a gift and might be subject to income tax to YOU if the value exceeds $13,000. Nice try!