{"id":557,"date":"2013-08-26T15:01:16","date_gmt":"2013-08-26T15:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/?p=557"},"modified":"2013-10-11T18:56:09","modified_gmt":"2013-10-11T18:56:09","slug":"how-to-be-in-charge-of-your-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/?p=557","title":{"rendered":"How to be in Charge of your Future?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the title may sound a bit ominous, the subject is a lot less complicated and emotional than you may think. Alan Lakein once said, \u201cPlanning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.\u201d So, you may ask, \u201cWhat do I do and how do I do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

I recently attended a seminar on this topic and I learned a great deal. I thought that the information was worth sharing. This may seem overwhelming for those who are disorganized or who are procrastinators but it can be done.<\/p>\n

Getting one\u2019s affairs in order was often considered a person\u2019s last duty. This is no longer the case. We want to be sure our lives are always under control until the end. It is best to get the job done when we are most able. During my years at the Farrar Home, I have seen, first hand, the benefits of planning and achievement of this task. Successful accomplishment of the plan can actually be rewarding and rejuvenating if it is approached with a positive attitude.<\/p>\n

We are all different; so, too, our plans for the future will vary.\u00a0 You will need to review what is important to you. Then, you will need to take steps to ensure everything is completed in the manner which you intended.<\/p>\n

The following suggestions may help you to get started:<\/p>\n

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1.<\/b> Get organized – <\/b>Locate and file any of the following items you may have and will need in the future. If you do not have the necessary documents contact the appropriate professional in order to learn how you may obtain a new document.<\/p>\n

Identification Documents<\/span> – Birth Certificate, Adoption Papers, passport, Immigration documents, Driver\u2019s License, Social Security Card, Family Tree.<\/p>\n

Insurance Documents<\/span> – Health Insurance Cards, Medicare or Medicaid Cards, Medigap Care, Drug Coverage Cards, Long Term Care Coverage Documents, Health Savings Account Document, Organ Donor Card, etc.<\/p>\n

–List of Emergency contacts and Professional Contacts, Religious Contacts<\/i><\/p>\n

–Burial, Funeral and Other End of Life Information<\/i><\/p>\n

-Marriage License, Divorce Decree, Prenuptial Agreements, etc.<\/i><\/p>\n

-Employment status and History with Current Benefits and Assistance<\/i><\/p>\n

-Pets\u2019 Information and History, along with your plan for them<\/i><\/p>\n

-Passwords, Keys to House, Car, Safety Deposit Box, etc.<\/i><\/p>\n

-Obituary, if you have specific wishes on how it should be written<\/i><\/p>\n

-Legal Documents including Financial Inventory, Insurance Coverage, Health Information<\/i><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 2.\u00a0 Medical Advance Directives<\/i><\/b> – Get them done.\u00a0 <\/i>Recently, the medical field began a movement to educate patients and complete the appropriate paperwork. Consequently, we are seeing fewer older adults without advance directives.<\/li>\n
  2. 3<\/i><\/b>.\u00a0 List and Track Healthcare Information \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Keeping track of important health information and treatment history can prove to be a life saver.<\/i><\/li>\n
  3. 4.\u00a0 Review Health, Other Insurance and Social Security Benefits <\/i><\/b>\u2013 We are living in a time when all insurances are changing on a regular basis.\u00a0 We need to educate ourselves or seek out professional advice regarding Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans and other insurance benefits.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    5. Complete and Review Your Financial Inventory <\/i><\/b>\u2013 This is the time when you need to understand the relationship between your finances, projected longevity, personal and family obligations and your lifestyle.\u00a0 This is when it may be worthwhile to work with a financial advisor. <\/i><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. 6.\u00a0 Review and Update your estate plan<\/i><\/b> \u2013 Have a will written or update your current will, if necessary, to accurately outline all of your wishes. <\/b><\/i><\/li>\n
    2. 7.\u00a0 Stay Connected to Your Friends, Family and Community <\/i><\/b>\u2013 This will avoid isolation which may contribute to depression and other medical challenges.<\/i><\/li>\n
    3. 8.\u00a0 Safety and Common Sense <\/i><\/b>\u2013 It is as important at this stage of your life as in any to avoid dangerous and harmful situations.\u00a0 Don\u2019t gamble with your health.\u00a0 Do not become a victim.<\/i><\/li>\n
    4. 9.\u00a0 Burial Arrangements <\/i><\/b>\u2013 Making end of life arrangements will ensure your wishes are known.\u00a0 Families shouldn\u2019t have to make such a difficult decision, which requires time, effort and money as they grieve over your passing.<\/i><\/li>\n
    5. 10.\u00a0 Identification and Selection of Professionals <\/i><\/b>\u2013 This is always an important time to use professional for advice.\u00a0 Your attorney, healthcare professionals, financial planner, insurance broker, accountant and tax advisor can become members of the team on whom you need to rely on for guidance.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Many of us tend to postpone or avoid dealing with issues we consider difficult, confusing or nerve wracking. At age 62, I realize that I need to get serious about this issue. I have completed a number of the above items. However, I know that it is time for me to continuing working on getting my plans for the future in order. Change seems difficult and it does take some work. Nevertheless, taking charge of your future will provide you with great rewards and peace of mind. It will help you make life the best it can be.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      While the title may sound a bit ominous, the subject is a lot less complicated and emotional than you may think. Alan Lakein once said, \u201cPlanning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.\u201d So, you may ask, \u201cWhat do I do and how do I do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aging-gracefully"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p32jIr-8Z","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=557"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":626,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions\/626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farrarhome.org\/home\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}