National Institute on Aging

AgePage

Ben has been married for 50 years.

He always managed the family’s money.

But since his stroke Ben can’t walk or

talk. Shirley, his wife, feels overwhelmed.

Of course, she’s worried about Ben’s

health. But, on top of that, she has

no idea what bills should be paid or

when they are due.

Eighty-year-old Louise lives alone.

One night she fell in the kitchen and broke

her hip. She spent one week in the hospital

and two months in an assisted living

facility. Even though her son lives across

the country, he was able to pay her bills

and handle her Medicare questions

right away. That’s because several

years ago, Louise and her

son talked about what to do

in case of a medical emergency.

Getting Your

Affairs in Order
2 

National Institute on Aging

AgePage

Ben has been married for 50 years.

He always managed the family’s money.

But since his stroke Ben can’t walk or

talk. Shirley, his wife, feels overwhelmed.

Of course, she’s worried about Ben’s

health. But, on top of that, she has

no idea what bills should be paid or

when they are due.

Eighty-year-old Louise lives alone.

One night she fell in the kitchen and broke

her hip. She spent one week in the hospital

and two months in an assisted living

facility. Even though her son lives across

the country, he was able to pay her bills

and handle her Medicare questions

right away. That’s because several

years ago, Louise and her

son talked about what to do

in case of a medical emergency.

Getting Your

Affairs in Order

Plan for the Future

No one ever plans to be sick or

disabled. Yet it’s just this kind of

planning that can make all the

difference in an emergency. Long

before she fell, Louise had put all

her important papers in one place

and told her son where to find them.

She gave him the name of her lawyer

as well as a list of people he could

contact at her bank, doctor’s office,

investment firm, and insurance

company. She made sure he had

copies of her Medicare and other

health insurance cards. She added

her son’s name to her checking

account, allowing him to write

checks on her account. Finally,

Louise made sure Medicare and

her doctor had written permission

to talk with her son about her

health or any insurance claims.

On the other hand, because

Ben always took care of family

financial matters, he never

talked about the details

with Shirley. No one

but Ben knew that

his life insurance policy
2 

National Institute on Aging

AgePage

Ben has been married for 50 years.

He always managed the family’s money.

But since his stroke Ben can’t walk or

talk. Shirley, his wife, feels overwhelmed.

Of course, she’s worried about Ben’s

health. But, on top of that, she has

no idea what bills should be paid or

when they are due.

Eighty-year-old Louise lives alone.

One night she fell in the kitchen and broke

her hip. She spent one week in the hospital

and two months in an assisted living

facility. Even though her son lives across

the country, he was able to pay her bills

and handle her Medicare questions

right away. That’s because several

years ago, Louise and her

son talked about what to do

in case of a medical emergency.

Getting Your

Affairs in Order

Plan for the Future

No one ever plans to be sick or

disabled. Yet it’s just this kind of

planning that can make all the

difference in an emergency. Long

before she fell, Louise had put all

her important papers in one place

and told her son where to find them.

She gave him the name of her lawyer

as well as a list of people he could

contact at her bank, doctor’s office,

investment firm, and insurance

company. She made sure he had

copies of her Medicare and other

health insurance cards. She added

her son’s name to her checking

account, allowing him to write

checks on her account. Finally,

Louise made sure Medicare and

her doctor had written permission

to talk with her son about her

health or any insurance claims.

On the other hand, because

Ben always took care of family

financial matters, he never

talked about the details

with Shirley. No one

but Ben knew that

his life insurance policy
National Institute on Aging

AgePage

Ben has been married for 50 years.

He always managed the family’s money.

But since his stroke Ben can’t walk or

talk. Shirley, his wife, feels overwhelmed.

Of course, she’s worried about Ben’s

health. But, on top of that, she has

no idea what bills should be paid or

when they are due.

Eighty-year-old Louise lives alone.

One night she fell in the kitchen and broke

her hip. She spent one week in the hospital

and two months in an assisted living

facility. Even though her son lives across

the country, he was able to pay her bills

and handle her Medicare questions

right away. That’s because several

years ago, Louise and her

son talked about what to do

in case of a medical emergency.

Getting Your

Affairs in Order
✦ A living will says how you want

your health care handled if

you are in a life threatening

situation and cannot make

medical decisions for yourself. It gives you the right to

refuse certain types of care.

It also gives those caring for

you the legal right to follow

your wishes.

State laws vary, so check with your

Area Office on Aging, a lawyer, or

a financial planner about the rules

and requirements in your State.

What Exactly is an

“Important Paper”?

The answer to this question may

be different for every family. The

following lists can help you decide

what is important for you. Remember, this is just a starting point.

You may have other information to add. For

example, if you

have a pet, be sure

to include the name

and address of your vet

or someone who could

care for him or her.

7 
✦ A living will says how you want

your health care handled if

you are in a life threatening

situation and cannot make

medical decisions for yourself. It gives you the right to

refuse certain types of care.

It also gives those caring for

you the legal right to follow

your wishes.

State laws vary, so check with your

Area Office on Aging, a lawyer, or

a financial planner about the rules

and requirements in your State.

What Exactly is an

“Important Paper”?

The answer to this question may

be different for every family. The

following lists can help you decide

what is important for you. Remember, this is just a starting point.

You may have other information to add. For

example, if you

have a pet, be sure

to include the name

and address of your vet

or someone who could

care for him or her.

Personal Records

✦ Full legal name

✦ Social Security number

✦ Legal residence

✦ Date and place of birth

✦ Names and addresses of spouse and childre

✦ Location of “living will” or other advance d

✦ Location of birth certificate and certificates 

and adoption

✦ Employers and dates of employment

✦ Medications you take regularly

✦ Education and military records

✦ Your religion, name of church or synagogu

✦ Memberships in groups and awards receive

✦ Names and addresses of close friends, relat

financial advisor

Financial Records

✦ Sources of income and assets (pension fund

✦ Information about insurance policies, bank 

and other valuables, such as jewelry or art

✦ Social Security and Medicare information

✦ Investment income (stocks, bonds, property

✦ Insurance information (life, health, long-te

numbers and agents’ names

✦ Name of your bank and bank account num

✦ Location of safe deposit boxes

✦ Copy of most recent income tax return

✦ Copy of your will

✦ Liabilities—what you owe, to whom, and w

✦ Mortgages and debts—how and when paid

✦ Location of deed of trust and car title

✦ Credit card and charge account names and 

✦ Property tax information

✦ Location of all personal items, such as jewe

7 8
✦A living will says how you want

your health care handled if

you are in a life threatening

situation and cannot make

medical decisions for yourself. It gives you the right to

refuse certain types of care.

It also gives those caring for

you the legal right to follow

your wishes.

State laws vary, so check with your

Area Office on Aging, a lawyer, or

a financial planner about the rules

and requirements in your State.

What Exactly is an “Important Paper”?

The answer to this question may

be different for every family. The

following lists can help you decide

what is important for you. Remember, this is just a starting point.

You may have other information to add. For

example, if you

have a pet, be sure

to include the name

and address of your vet

or someone who could

care for him or her.

Personal Records ✦ Full legal name ✦ Social Security number ✦ Legal residence ✦ Date and place of birth ✦ Names and addresses of spouse an

✦ Location of “living will” or other a

✦ Location of birth certificate and ce

and adoption

✦ Employers and dates of employme

✦ Medications you take regularly ✦ Education and military records ✦ Your religion, name of church or s

✦ Memberships in groups and award

✦ Names and addresses of close frien

financial advisor

Financial Records ✦ Sources of income and assets (pen

✦ Information about insurance polic

and other valuables, such as jewel

✦ Social Security and Medicare infor

✦ Investment income (stocks, bonds, 

✦ Insurance information (life, health

numbers and agents’ names

✦ Name of your bank and bank acco

✦ Location of safe deposit boxes ✦ Copy of most recent income tax re

✦ Copy of your will ✦ Liabilities—what you owe, to who

✦ Mortgages and debts—how and w

✦ Location of deed of trust and car t

✦ Credit card and charge account na

✦ Property tax information ✦ Location of all personal items, suc

78
✦ A living will says how you want

your health care handled if

you are in a life threatening

situation and cannot make

medical decisions for yourself. It gives you the right to

refuse certain types of care.

It also gives those caring for

you the legal right to follow

your wishes.

State laws vary, so check with your

Area Office on Aging, a lawyer, or

a financial planner about the rules

and requirements in your State.

What Exactly is an

“Important Paper”?

The answer to this question may

be different for every family. The

following lists can help you decide

what is important for you. Remember, this is just a starting point.

You may have other information to add. For

example, if you

have a pet, be sure

to include the name

and address of your vet

or someone who could

care for him or her.

7