Re: Re: My mother has won her battle - Kate and all

[Guest guest]

I wish I could hug your mom, too! What a thoughtful thing to do.

My mom had purchased the burial plot back in '71, when my dad died. But

that was as far as she got. She didn't even want a companion marker placed

until she was gone. When I finally got around to setting up her funeral

account (too much emotion) it was surprising how important this decision

was to all of my siblings - 3 sisters. And, for the account, we tried to

economize and that wasn't a good place to economize. Everything about the

funeral was a negotiation, which is why we ended up splitting up areas (the

music teacher arranged the music, the food scientist arranged the lunch

with the church women, the pastor's wife arranged the pastor and service

(her husband and Mom's pastor - 2 of them), and I handled flowers, money

and peace-keeping. Siblings are both a blessing and a curse. We learned a

long time ago that we did best when everyone had their own territory and no

one encroached.

Now, I'm aware of what I'll put sisters, nieces and nephews through if I

don't do what your mom did. I plan to follow her example.

Kate

> **

>

>

> Kate, before I offer comments, I'll once again thank all who have offered

> condolences. And, I can't recall if I sent you a message of condolence. The

> past month has been difficult so it's not impossible that I missed doing

> that. If so, please accept my condolences on your loss. As long as this

> journey is, we are never entirely ready to have our loved one leave us.

>

> I will visit Mom's facility Monday and settle what remains of her bill. I

> don't expect them to make a big deal out of it. But, they do charge for

> each day anything remains in the room. So, hours after Mom passed, we were

> in there to gather her belongings and bring it home. If it had not been for

> the presence of a friend, I might not have been able to do that so quickly.

> You know how it is with corporate profits... I understand. It is a business

> and only by making a profit can they be there to provide a safe environment

> for those who are so very much in need of care. Still...a day of grace

> would be nice.

>

> Freezing bank accounts? I don't know what happened when my father passed

> 38 years ago. They lived with us but I really don't recall any issues

> arising. Perhaps it is different in different locations. What an awful

> thing to happen!

>

> I'm leaving your comments at the bottom of this because they offer good

> advice. I am an only child so there were no siblings to consult. That made

> the decisions easier in many respects but there is no one now who can share

> memories of a childhood or remind me if my memory is flawed. I don't have

> to worry about probate...six years in long term care left nothing to

> probate. I haven't taken any reimbursements. We promised my mother that if

> she ever needed care, we would ensure it was done properly. It hasn't been

> easy but we kept our promise. We made prearrangements for Mom when she was

> diagnosed. And, Mom made the burial arrangements back in 1988. When we made

> that discovery yesterday at the funeral home (those results were made

> elsewhere and obtained by the funeral home we contacted in 2006), I wished

> I could give Mom a huge hug! We couldn't find those papers...someone was

> looking over our shoulder for sure.

>

> Your most valuable piece of advice is the last one. Without that, none of

> the others matter. Things will go wrong. Yesterday morning was an awful one

> for me. Nothing went right. Shrug it off and move forward before it clouds

> everything and even more goes wrong!

>

> Kate, you have offered valuable advice to individuals in this group. It

> speaks from experience and that is often more worthy than from a book. It

> is real, full of human frailties and strengths.

>

> Best wishes to you as you recover,

> Lynn in Florida

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

> >

> > Lynn

> >

> > I also lost my mom this month, too> snip

> >

> Within a week, the wonderful nursing home started being less

> > than kind about the few hundred dollars we still owed. Mom was on

> > Medicaid, no estate of any value, so I suppose they were worried. >

> > Forty years ago, at my dad's passing, Mom had an even worse experience.

> Back then, bank accounts were frozen at someone's death. Even joint

> accounts. <snip>

>

> > Here's what I learned:>

> >

> > - Do not close bank accounts until all bills are paid, probate is

> > complete (if there is something to probate) and any money owed to her

> estate) has been received. This also helps with keeping records of where

> her money has gone.

> > - Get many copies of the death certificate. Every time you get a check

> that is made out to the estate of, there will be forms to fill out and

> notarize and a certified death certificate to accompany that form. And, at

> least in Minnesota, you have to hold onto the checks for 30 days before you

> can even turn the form in. It would have been a lot simpler if I had kept

> her bank account open.

>

> > - In Minnesota, you only have to go through Probate if there are assets

> of over $50,000. For anything less, you can do an informal probate. And,if

> it is just a matter of things like insurance refunds, even informal probate

> isn't necessary - just the notarized form and the death certificate.

> > - You have to notify EVERYONE. The county generally has the

> > information, but it is wise to confirm that they know if something like

> Medicaid is involved. If VA benefits are involved, you have to be sure to

> inform them AND be aware that they may require that you return the last

> benefit check or amount. Credit cards need to be closed (if you haven't

> already). I'm sure there are others I haven't encountered yet.

> > - Have a prepaid funeral account for at least $10,000. Between the

> service, cremation or burial or both, funeral director, church and other

> costs (lunch, musicians, pastors, printing) this is a minimum. If, as the

> passing is approaching, you are concerned that you don't have enough in the

> account, add to it right away.

> > - Be sure you understand all the rules of the cemetery. They have all

> sorts of rules about what the marker can look like, how large it can be,how

> it should be set, etc. And, even if they have a rule, if you need something

> that is outside of their regulations, ask for it. You may need to go

> through a process, but you are often successful.

> > - And a suggestion. If you have a number of siblings, let each take

> responsibility (and power) over parts of the funeral. And accept how they

> decide to handle it. It's important to their grieving process and your

> sanity.

> >

> > And, when mistakes or other bad things happen, try to take them in

> stride. Taking things too much to heart and getting upset by them doesn't

> help anyone and leads to ulcers. The mistakes or downright awful things

> that happen are someday going to be the things you remember - maybe even

> fondly or with humor - years from now.

>

>

>

--

Kate Knapp, OIT

University of Minnesota

You were born with certain gifts and talents.

In kindergarten you were taught to share.

The world needs all of the gifts it can get.

Don’t be shy.

[Guest guest]

my condolences to all of you who are losing their loved ones  and also those of

us still in the thick of battle. It is tragic and saddening to realize the only

way to win the war is lose the battles.  my wife (kay, 59) is still declining.

i opted out of the lumbar puncture and further testing bcause is is too much of

a battle to get good info and feedback from doctors. I am going with

possible/probable LBD. I am now in the stage of buying DME.  i have a walker

(useless now, except for stabilzing), a wheelchair, built a ramp to get her out

of house, a porta potty ( mainly for my caregiver who can't lift my wife).  now

i need leg elevators for the wheelchair ( they gave me the cheapest

wheelchair),   shower chair which will roll into shower?,  some kind of ramp

to roll said chair on, food tray for wheelchair, shower mat, pee pads, bib, and

bag to hang on wheelchair.  This LBD seems to stay one step ahead of me all the

time. i have a sore wrist,

back weakness, and i popped a vessel in my eye and losing vision ( have a dr.

appt. next week).  there is no way to lift properly under these conditions. 

Again, i am sorry for your loss. I hope we can all find closure at some point. 

and please take care of yourselves, physically and emotionally- i am doing the

best i can...........

Subject: Re: My mother has won her battle - Kate and all

To: LBDcaregivers

Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 12:40 PM

 

Kate, before I offer comments, I'll once again thank all who have offered

condolences. And, I can't recall if I sent you a message of condolence. The past

month has been difficult so it's not impossible that I missed doing that. If so,

please accept my condolences on your loss. As long as this journey is, we are

never entirely ready to have our loved one leave us.

I will visit Mom's facility Monday and settle what remains of her bill. I don't

expect them to make a big deal out of it. But, they do charge for each day

anything remains in the room. So, hours after Mom passed, we were in there to

gather her belongings and bring it home. If it had not been for the presence of

a friend, I might not have been able to do that so quickly. You know how it is

with corporate profits... I understand. It is a business and only by making a

profit can they be there to provide a safe environment for those who are so very

much in need of care. Still...a day of grace would be nice.

Freezing bank accounts? I don't know what happened when my father passed 38

years ago. They lived with us but I really don't recall any issues arising.

Perhaps it is different in different locations. What an awful thing to happen!

I'm leaving your comments at the bottom of this because they offer good advice.

I am an only child so there were no siblings to consult. That made the decisions

easier in many respects but there is no one now who can share memories of a

childhood or remind me if my memory is flawed. I don't have to worry about

probate...six years in long term care left nothing to probate. I haven't taken

any reimbursements. We promised my mother that if she ever needed care, we would

ensure it was done properly. It hasn't been easy but we kept our promise. We

made prearrangements for Mom when she was diagnosed. And, Mom made the burial

arrangements back in 1988. When we made that discovery yesterday at the funeral

home (those results were made elsewhere and obtained by the funeral home we

contacted in 2006), I wished I could give Mom a huge hug! We couldn't find those

papers...someone was looking over our shoulder for sure.

Your most valuable piece of advice is the last one. Without that, none of the

others matter. Things will go wrong. Yesterday morning was an awful one for me.

Nothing went right. Shrug it off and move forward before it clouds everything

and even more goes wrong!

Kate, you have offered valuable advice to individuals in this group. It speaks

from experience and that is often more worthy than from a book. It is real, full

of human frailties and strengths.

Best wishes to you as you recover,

Lynn in Florida

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Lynn

>

> I also lost my mom this month, too> snip

>

Within a week, the wonderful nursing home started being less

> than kind about the few hundred dollars we still owed. Mom was on

> Medicaid, no estate of any value, so I suppose they were worried. >

> Forty years ago, at my dad's passing, Mom had an even worse experience. Back

then, bank accounts were frozen at someone's death. Even joint accounts. <snip>

> Here's what I learned:>

>

> - Do not close bank accounts until all bills are paid, probate is

> complete (if there is something to probate) and any money owed to her estate)

has been received. This also helps with keeping records of where her money has

gone.

> - Get many copies of the death certificate. Every time you get a check that is

made out to the estate of, there will be forms to fill out and notarize and a

certified death certificate to accompany that form. And, at least in Minnesota,

you have to hold onto the checks for 30 days before you can even turn the form

in. It would have been a lot simpler if I had kept her bank account open.

> - In Minnesota, you only have to go through Probate if there are assets of

over $50,000. For anything less, you can do an informal probate. And,if it is

just a matter of things like insurance refunds, even informal probate isn't

necessary - just the notarized form and the death certificate.

> - You have to notify EVERYONE. The county generally has the

> information, but it is wise to confirm that they know if something like

Medicaid is involved. If VA benefits are involved, you have to be sure to inform

them AND be aware that they may require that you return the last benefit check

or amount. Credit cards need to be closed (if you haven't already). I'm sure

there are others I haven't encountered yet.

> - Have a prepaid funeral account for at least $10,000. Between the service,

cremation or burial or both, funeral director, church and other costs (lunch,

musicians, pastors, printing) this is a minimum. If, as the passing is

approaching, you are concerned that you don't have enough in the account, add to

it right away.

> - Be sure you understand all the rules of the cemetery. They have all sorts of

rules about what the marker can look like, how large it can be,how it should be

set, etc. And, even if they have a rule, if you need something that is outside

of their regulations, ask for it. You may need to go through a process, but you

are often successful.

> - And a suggestion. If you have a number of siblings, let each take

responsibility (and power) over parts of the funeral. And accept how they decide

to handle it. It's important to their grieving process and your sanity.

>

> And, when mistakes or other bad things happen, try to take them in stride.

Taking things too much to heart and getting upset by them doesn't help anyone

and leads to ulcers. The mistakes or downright awful things that happen are

someday going to be the things you remember - maybe even fondly or with humor -

years from now.

[Guest guest]

,

Are you handling this mostly alone and with only your savings? Is

insurance helping with the equipment costs at all? Can you get the doctor

or an occupational therapist to order this equipment? That would help with

getting financial assistance to cover the cost. An OT should be evaluating

your home for the things you need to care for your wife. Well before

Medicaid, the county provided a stair-lift for our split-level home so that

my mom could get around the house.

Unless you are extremely well off financially, check with your local county

social services/human services. If you aren't ready for full-blown

Medicaid, there are other programs that will help you on a sliding scale.

Don't be too shy about doing this. You've been paying taxes for years.

This is what those taxes are for.

And, for goodness sake, get your own health taken care of. I've also dealt

with back issues and know that if you don't take care of them you will be

of little help to your wife or anyone else. The physical demands don't go

away, they increase. Talk to the occupational therapist and your own

doctor about your physical condition. See if one of them will order a

Hoyer lift or another brand. Protect your back - you'll need it. Both

your wife's doctor and your own doctor need to be involved in this

caregiving journey. And a word to the wise: it is OK to call 911 to lift

your wife from the floor when she falls. As my fire chief neighbor told

me, that's what they are there for - nothing needs to be burning.

Not only is it OK to take care of yourself. Your wife needs you to take

care of yourself. Her care requires that you take care of yourself.

Kate

> **

>

>

> my condolences to all of you who are losing their loved ones and also

> those of us still in the thick of battle. It is tragic and saddening to

> realize the only way to win the war is lose the battles. my wife (kay, 59)

> is still declining. i opted out of the lumbar puncture and further testing

> bcause is is too much of a battle to get good info and feedback from

> doctors. I am going with possible/probable LBD. I am now in the stage of

> buying DME. i have a walker (useless now, except for stabilzing), a

> wheelchair, built a ramp to get her out of house, a porta potty ( mainly

> for my caregiver who can't lift my wife). now i need leg elevators for the

> wheelchair ( they gave me the cheapest wheelchair), shower chair which

> will roll into shower?, some kind of ramp to roll said chair on, food tray

> for wheelchair, shower mat, pee pads, bib, and bag to hang on wheelchair.

> This LBD seems to stay one step ahead of me all the time. i have a sore

> wrist,

> back weakness, and i popped a vessel in my eye and losing vision ( have a

> dr. appt. next week). there is no way to lift properly under these

> conditions. Again, i am sorry for your loss. I hope we can all find

> closure at some point. and please take care of yourselves, physically and

> emotionally- i am doing the best i can...........

>

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: My mother has won her battle - Kate and all

> To: LBDcaregivers

> Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 12:40 PM

>

>

>

>

> Kate, before I offer comments, I'll once again thank all who have offered

> condolences. And, I can't recall if I sent you a message of condolence. The

> past month has been difficult so it's not impossible that I missed doing

> that. If so, please accept my condolences on your loss. As long as this

> journey is, we are never entirely ready to have our loved one leave us.

>

> I will visit Mom's facility Monday and settle what remains of her bill. I

> don't expect them to make a big deal out of it. But, they do charge for

> each day anything remains in the room. So, hours after Mom passed, we were

> in there to gather her belongings and bring it home. If it had not been for

> the presence of a friend, I might not have been able to do that so quickly.

> You know how it is with corporate profits... I understand. It is a business

> and only by making a profit can they be there to provide a safe environment

> for those who are so very much in need of care. Still...a day of grace

> would be nice.

>

> Freezing bank accounts? I don't know what happened when my father passed

> 38 years ago. They lived with us but I really don't recall any issues

> arising. Perhaps it is different in different locations. What an awful

> thing to happen!

>

> I'm leaving your comments at the bottom of this because they offer good

> advice. I am an only child so there were no siblings to consult. That made

> the decisions easier in many respects but there is no one now who can share

> memories of a childhood or remind me if my memory is flawed. I don't have

> to worry about probate...six years in long term care left nothing to

> probate. I haven't taken any reimbursements. We promised my mother that if

> she ever needed care, we would ensure it was done properly. It hasn't been

> easy but we kept our promise. We made prearrangements for Mom when she was

> diagnosed. And, Mom made the burial arrangements back in 1988. When we made

> that discovery yesterday at the funeral home (those results were made

> elsewhere and obtained by the funeral home we contacted in 2006), I wished

> I could give Mom a huge hug! We couldn't find those papers...someone was

> looking over our shoulder for sure.

>

> Your most valuable piece of advice is the last one. Without that, none of

> the others matter. Things will go wrong. Yesterday morning was an awful one

> for me. Nothing went right. Shrug it off and move forward before it clouds

> everything and even more goes wrong!

>

> Kate, you have offered valuable advice to individuals in this group. It

> speaks from experience and that is often more worthy than from a book. It

> is real, full of human frailties and strengths.

>

> Best wishes to you as you recover,

> Lynn in Florida

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

> >

> > Lynn

> >

> > I also lost my mom this month, too> snip

> >

> Within a week, the wonderful nursing home started being less

> > than kind about the few hundred dollars we still owed. Mom was on

> > Medicaid, no estate of any value, so I suppose they were worried. >

> > Forty years ago, at my dad's passing, Mom had an even worse experience.

> Back then, bank accounts were frozen at someone's death. Even joint

> accounts. <snip>

>

> > Here's what I learned:>

> >

> > - Do not close bank accounts until all bills are paid, probate is

> > complete (if there is something to probate) and any money owed to her

> estate) has been received. This also helps with keeping records of where

> her money has gone.

> > - Get many copies of the death certificate. Every time you get a check

> that is made out to the estate of, there will be forms to fill out and

> notarize and a certified death certificate to accompany that form. And, at

> least in Minnesota, you have to hold onto the checks for 30 days before you

> can even turn the form in. It would have been a lot simpler if I had kept

> her bank account open.

>

> > - In Minnesota, you only have to go through Probate if there are assets

> of over $50,000. For anything less, you can do an informal probate. And,if

> it is just a matter of things like insurance refunds, even informal probate

> isn't necessary - just the notarized form and the death certificate.

> > - You have to notify EVERYONE. The county generally has the

> > information, but it is wise to confirm that they know if something like

> Medicaid is involved. If VA benefits are involved, you have to be sure to

> inform them AND be aware that they may require that you return the last

> benefit check or amount. Credit cards need to be closed (if you haven't

> already). I'm sure there are others I haven't encountered yet.

> > - Have a prepaid funeral account for at least $10,000. Between the

> service, cremation or burial or both, funeral director, church and other

> costs (lunch, musicians, pastors, printing) this is a minimum. If, as the

> passing is approaching, you are concerned that you don't have enough in the

> account, add to it right away.

> > - Be sure you understand all the rules of the cemetery. They have all

> sorts of rules about what the marker can look like, how large it can be,how

> it should be set, etc. And, even if they have a rule, if you need something

> that is outside of their regulations, ask for it. You may need to go

> through a process, but you are often successful.

> > - And a suggestion. If you have a number of siblings, let each take

> responsibility (and power) over parts of the funeral. And accept how they

> decide to handle it. It's important to their grieving process and your

> sanity.

> >

> > And, when mistakes or other bad things happen, try to take them in

> stride. Taking things too much to heart and getting upset by them doesn't

> help anyone and leads to ulcers. The mistakes or downright awful things

> that happen are someday going to be the things you remember - maybe even

> fondly or with humor - years from now.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Are you handling this mostly alone and with only your savings? Is

insurance helping with the equipment costs at all? Can you get the doctor

or an occupational therapist to order this equipment? That would help with

getting financial assistance to cover the cost. An OT should be evaluating

your home for the things you need to care for your wife. Well before

Medicaid, the county provided a stair-lift for our split-level home so that

my mom could get around the house.

Unless you are extremely well off financially, check with your local county

social services/human services. If you aren't ready for full-blown

Medicaid, there are other programs that will help you on a sliding scale.

Don't be too shy about doing this. You've been paying taxes for years.

This is what those taxes are for.

And, for goodness sake, get your own health taken care of. I've also dealt

with back issues and know that if you don't take care of them you will be

of little help to your wife or anyone else. The physical demands don't go

away, they increase. Talk to the occupational therapist and your own

doctor about your physical condition. See if one of them will order a

Hoyer lift or another brand. Protect your back - you'll need it. Both

your wife's doctor and your own doctor need to be involved in this

caregiving journey. And a word to the wise: it is OK to call 911 to lift

your wife from the floor when she falls. As my fire chief neighbor told

me, that's what they are there for - nothing needs to be burning.

Not only is it OK to take care of yourself. Your wife needs you to take

care of yourself. Her care requires that you take care of yourself.

Kate

> **

>

>

> my condolences to all of you who are losing their loved ones and also

> those of us still in the thick of battle. It is tragic and saddening to

> realize the only way to win the war is lose the battles. my wife (kay, 59)

> is still declining. i opted out of the lumbar puncture and further testing

> bcause is is too much of a battle to get good info and feedback from

> doctors. I am going with possible/probable LBD. I am now in the stage of

> buying DME. i have a walker (useless now, except for stabilzing), a

> wheelchair, built a ramp to get her out of house, a porta potty ( mainly

> for my caregiver who can't lift my wife). now i need leg elevators for the

> wheelchair ( they gave me the cheapest wheelchair), shower chair which

> will roll into shower?, some kind of ramp to roll said chair on, food tray

> for wheelchair, shower mat, pee pads, bib, and bag to hang on wheelchair.

> This LBD seems to stay one step ahead of me all the time. i have a sore

> wrist,

> back weakness, and i popped a vessel in my eye and losing vision ( have a

> dr. appt. next week). there is no way to lift properly under these

> conditions. Again, i am sorry for your loss. I hope we can all find

> closure at some point. and please take care of yourselves, physically and

> emotionally- i am doing the best i can...........

>

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: My mother has won her battle - Kate and all

> To: LBDcaregivers

> Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 12:40 PM

>

>

>

>

> Kate, before I offer comments, I'll once again thank all who have offered

> condolences. And, I can't recall if I sent you a message of condolence. The

> past month has been difficult so it's not impossible that I missed doing

> that. If so, please accept my condolences on your loss. As long as this

> journey is, we are never entirely ready to have our loved one leave us.

>

> I will visit Mom's facility Monday and settle what remains of her bill. I

> don't expect them to make a big deal out of it. But, they do charge for

> each day anything remains in the room. So, hours after Mom passed, we were

> in there to gather her belongings and bring it home. If it had not been for

> the presence of a friend, I might not have been able to do that so quickly.

> You know how it is with corporate profits... I understand. It is a business

> and only by making a profit can they be there to provide a safe environment

> for those who are so very much in need of care. Still...a day of grace

> would be nice.

>

> Freezing bank accounts? I don't know what happened when my father passed

> 38 years ago. They lived with us but I really don't recall any issues

> arising. Perhaps it is different in different locations. What an awful

> thing to happen!

>

> I'm leaving your comments at the bottom of this because they offer good

> advice. I am an only child so there were no siblings to consult. That made

> the decisions easier in many respects but there is no one now who can share

> memories of a childhood or remind me if my memory is flawed. I don't have

> to worry about probate...six years in long term care left nothing to

> probate. I haven't taken any reimbursements. We promised my mother that if

> she ever needed care, we would ensure it was done properly. It hasn't been

> easy but we kept our promise. We made prearrangements for Mom when she was

> diagnosed. And, Mom made the burial arrangements back in 1988. When we made

> that discovery yesterday at the funeral home (those results were made

> elsewhere and obtained by the funeral home we contacted in 2006), I wished

> I could give Mom a huge hug! We couldn't find those papers...someone was

> looking over our shoulder for sure.

>

> Your most valuable piece of advice is the last one. Without that, none of

> the others matter. Things will go wrong. Yesterday morning was an awful one

> for me. Nothing went right. Shrug it off and move forward before it clouds

> everything and even more goes wrong!

>

> Kate, you have offered valuable advice to individuals in this group. It

> speaks from experience and that is often more worthy than from a book. It

> is real, full of human frailties and strengths.

>

> Best wishes to you as you recover,

> Lynn in Florida

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

> >

> > Lynn

> >

> > I also lost my mom this month, too> snip

> >

> Within a week, the wonderful nursing home started being less

> > than kind about the few hundred dollars we still owed. Mom was on

> > Medicaid, no estate of any value, so I suppose they were worried. >

> > Forty years ago, at my dad's passing, Mom had an even worse experience.

> Back then, bank accounts were frozen at someone's death. Even joint

> accounts. <snip>

>

> > Here's what I learned:>

> >

> > - Do not close bank accounts until all bills are paid, probate is

> > complete (if there is something to probate) and any money owed to her

> estate) has been received. This also helps with keeping records of where

> her money has gone.

> > - Get many copies of the death certificate. Every time you get a check

> that is made out to the estate of, there will be forms to fill out and

> notarize and a certified death certificate to accompany that form. And, at

> least in Minnesota, you have to hold onto the checks for 30 days before you

> can even turn the form in. It would have been a lot simpler if I had kept

> her bank account open.

>

> > - In Minnesota, you only have to go through Probate if there are assets

> of over $50,000. For anything less, you can do an informal probate. And,if

> it is just a matter of things like insurance refunds, even informal probate

> isn't necessary - just the notarized form and the death certificate.

> > - You have to notify EVERYONE. The county generally has the

> > information, but it is wise to confirm that they know if something like

> Medicaid is involved. If VA benefits are involved, you have to be sure to

> inform them AND be aware that they may require that you return the last

> benefit check or amount. Credit cards need to be closed (if you haven't

> already). I'm sure there are others I haven't encountered yet.

> > - Have a prepaid funeral account for at least $10,000. Between the

> service, cremation or burial or both, funeral director, church and other

> costs (lunch, musicians, pastors, printing) this is a minimum. If, as the

> passing is approaching, you are concerned that you don't have enough in the

> account, add to it right away.

> > - Be sure you understand all the rules of the cemetery. They have all

> sorts of rules about what the marker can look like, how large it can be,how

> it should be set, etc. And, even if they have a rule, if you need something

> that is outside of their regulations, ask for it. You may need to go

> through a process, but you are often successful.

> > - And a suggestion. If you have a number of siblings, let each take

> responsibility (and power) over parts of the funeral. And accept how they

> decide to handle it. It's important to their grieving process and your

> sanity.

> >

> > And, when mistakes or other bad things happen, try to take them in

> stride. Taking things too much to heart and getting upset by them doesn't

> help anyone and leads to ulcers. The mistakes or downright awful things

> that happen are someday going to be the things you remember - maybe even

> fondly or with humor - years from now.

>

>