If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to start thinking about how you will handle your post-life affairs. The idea isn’t meant to sound morbid, but anyone past the age of 50 should start thinking about the life that continues after their death. Life can end in the blink of an eye at any age, but seniors should plan their funeral arrangements and final wishes long before that time comes.
The ‘Final Wish’ Conversation
Discussing your final wishes is an awkward conversation to have because nobody enjoys talking about dying. Your children and spouse probably don’t want to consider it, but there’s no escaping every person’s ultimate reality. Set aside the appropriate time for this conversation about your final wishes, and choose the most important people in your life to be there. During this conversation, discuss all of your preferences, and assign the person you’d like to carry out those wishes. Prepare and gather all of your documents, and inform your family of its location, so that they can find them in the event of your passing.
Living Will
Unlike the “Last Will,” a living will details your decisions for medical care when you are unable to speak for yourself. It gives specific instructions on how you want to distribute your property following your death. These decisions include palliative care, “do not resuscitate” orders, and your choice for a durable power of attorney to act as your healthcare proxy.
Funeral Arrangements
There are many instances in which a recently-departed person doesn’t make choices for their funeral. Those decisions are usually left for their loved ones to make. However, rather than having your family face this heartbreaking task while they’re grieving, you can plan your funeral and memorial service long before it’s needed. It may seem overwhelming to have to think about, but you can use this checklist to pre-plan.
Funeral Costs
Funerals are not cheap, so it’s not surprising to see families start crowdfunding campaigns to pay for them. Funerals get expensive very quickly, and the price tag increases if you choose burial instead of cremation. The key to not breaking the bank on funeral costs is to avoid the additional upgrades that some funeral homes try to sell. Mourning family members are more vulnerable to sales tactics, but you can spare them the trouble by having your funeral and memorial planned and paid for in advance.
Burial Insurance
You have the option to add burial insurance to your life insurance policy. It covers funeral arrangements and possibly medical bills and personal debt. Decide what type of final arrangements you want and whether you want extra cash to cover debts. You do not want to burden your family. A whole life insurance coverage is when you add a death benefit to your life insurance plan.
Last Will
Finally, you will need to decide what to do with your property after your passing. It is essential to keep a list of all documents that your family will need. You might have assets, income, or insurance policies of which your loved ones may not know. It would be an excellent idea to leave specific instructions on how you want to divide your assets. Decide who will inherit them and when the inheritance will kick in. You might even assign a trustee to manage your estate, so make sure to think ahead.
Conclusion
Make sure your final wishes are carried out based on your instructions and avoid leaving the difficult decisions for your family to carry out. Losing someone they love is hard enough, so why add the stress of trying to guess the ideal funeral for you? You have lived your life how you wanted, so make sure the celebration of your life is what you want it to be as well.
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