Savvy Senior - Dying Without a Will: Who gets what?
Dear Savvy Senior
What will happen to my property and money if I die without a will?
Don't Have Much
Dear Don't
If you die without a will, what happens to your assets will depend on the state you live in, and which of your family members are living at the time of your death. Here's what you should know.
Who Gets What
No one ever really dies without a will. That's because even if you don't get around to creating one yourself, the state you resided in will make one for you. But that also means the state gets to determine who get's your property and money - not you.
The state laws that determine how your estate will be distributed if you die without a will are called intestacy laws, and they can vary greatly from state-to-state. The best way to find out how your state works is to go to MyStateWill.com. This is a free, user-friendly site that has an intestacy calculator for every state so you can get an exact breakdown of how your estate would be distributed.
In the meantime, here is a general (not state specific) breakdown of what can happen to a person's assets - depending on who they leave behind.
* Married with children: When a married person with children dies without a will, all property, investments and financial accounts that are jointly held (or community property) automatically goes to the surviving spouse, without going through probate, which is the legal process that distributes a deceased person's assets. But for all other separately owned property or individual financial accounts, the laws of most states award one-third to one-half to the surviving spouse, while the rest goes to the children.
* Married with no children or grandchildren: Some states award the entire estate to the surviving spouse, or everything up to a certain amount (for example the first $200,000). But many other states award only one-third to one-half of the decedent's separately owned assets to the surviving spouse, with the remainder generally going to the deceased person's parents, or if the parents are dead, to brothers and sisters. (Note: Jointly owned property, investments, financial accounts, or community property automatically goes to the surviving spouse.)
* Single with children: All state laws provide that the entire estate goes to the children, in equal shares. If an adult child of the decedent has died, then that child's children (the decedent's grandchildren) split their parent's share.
* Single with no children: In this situation, most state laws favor the deceased person's parents. If both parents are deceased, many states divide the property among the brothers and sisters, or if they are not living, their children (your nieces and nephews). If there are none of them, it goes to the next of kin, and if there is no living family, the state takes it.
Simple Wills
If you don't like the idea of your state handling your financial affairs after you're gone, you can change that by creating a simple will, and with all the self-help resources available today it's quick, easy and inexpensive. For example, Web sites like Buildawill.com and Legacywriter.com create a will for you by asking you questions and inserting your answers. The whole process takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish and costs only around $20. Or if you need a little extra help, try Legalzoom.com for $69. This site works like the others, but then has a specialist double-check your answers for completeness.
Or, if you don't find the online resources appealing check out Nolo's "Quicken WillMaker Plus 2010" (Nolo.com, 800-728-3555), which offers a downloadable computer software program for $40, or a CD for $42. Nolo also offers a new online will service for $50. And if you don't have a computer, there's Nolo's "Quick & Legal Will Book" ($13), which comes with legal forms and step-by-step instructions.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.
Montgomery Senior Citizens - March - April ‘10
If you are a Montgomery Township or Rocky Hill resident who is 55 years and older, you are eligible to join. Call Mary Ann Symonoski, President 908-359-6022.
March 11 1 pm Mtg. @ Senior Center
March 23 Atlantic City
April 8 1 pm Mtg. @ Senior Center – Marko,
The Magician Show
April 27 Atlantic City
All programs are subject to change. EMS will do free blood pressure readings at monthly meetings. Call Muriel Kellenger for Atlantic City and regular trip reservations 908-874-3626, Alice Garrison Picnic reservations 609-921-8113. You do not have to be a member of the Montgomery Senior Citizens Group to participate in the above activities, if seats are available, with the exception of the picnic, Christmas luncheon, and monthly meetings.
Township Emergency Outreach Program
Montgomery Township has a program for residents in special need due to illness or age. The Township Health Officer Stephanie Carey, will keep a list of peop0le with special needs who will be called during an emergency, such as a blizzard, power outage, flood, or other event, to make sure they have heat, water, and other essentials like food and medicine.
Anyone wishing to be on such a list (or someone you know of), should contact Ms. Carey at the Health Office, 908-359-8211, or email, scarey@twp.montgomery.nj.us. Please read the “Notice of Privacy Practices of Montrgomery Township” statement first. Forms can also be found at the Senior Center or the Health Dept. office.
If you have already registered, but have moved or changed your phone number, notify the Health Office
A sperate program, called Project Lifesaver, is for finding lost persons with Alheimer’s or autism. These persons must be registered in advance. Local police will assist with a search, but it is run by the Somerset County Sherriff’s Office and the County Office on Aging.
Dear Savvy Senior - Alzheimer's: Wandering What To Do
Dear Savvy Senior: My wife has Alzheimer's disease and I worry about her wandering off. What tips or resources can you recommend to help me with this?
Always Moving
Dear Always,
Wandering is a very common behavior in people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. For caregivers, this can be frightening because many of those who wander off end up confused and lost, even in their own neighborhood, and are unable to communicate who they are or where they live. But there are things you can do to guard against this and protect your loved one. Here's what you should know.
Wandering Numbers
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease today is estimated at 5.3 million, and according to the Alzheimer's Association more than 60 percent of them will wander away from their homes at some point. Most wanders - around 95 percent - are found within a quarter mile of their last location, but if an elderly person is not found within 24 hours, there is a 50 percent chance they'll suffer a serious injury or die.
Home Solutions
To help keep your wife safe and at home there are a number of things you can do. For starters, you can reduce her tendency to wander by keeping keep her occupied with simple activities and by encouraging her to move and exercise. There are also a variety of simple household adjustments you could make like installing a "key access" deadbolt or some type of safety lock on the exterior doors to keep her from wandering out, or to keep her from driving away, hide the car keys. You can find many other wandering prevention tips at alz.org/safetycenter. It's also a good idea to alert your neighbors that your wife may wander so they can keep an eye out, and have on hand a recent picture of her to show around the neighborhood or to the police if she does get lost.
Helpful Programs
There are also a variety of programs that can help locate your wife if she happens to wander off. Here are some to check into:
- Silver Alert program: Currently available in about a dozen states, this program is modeled after Amber Alerts for missing children. If your wife goes missing, you contact Silver Alert and they alert the public and law enforcement agencies and the media so that citizens can be on the look out. To find out if Silver Alert is available in your state, contact your local Alzheimer's Association - call 800-272-3900 to get your local number. (Note: Congress is currently considering a national Silver Alert bill, which would provide funding to help all states create programs in the future.)
- Medic Alert + Safe Return program: Offered by the Alzheimer's Association (medicalert.org/safereturn; 888-633-4298) this is a national program that can also help locate your wife if she wanders away. With this service she would wear a medical alert ID bracelet or pendant engraved with her medical conditions and the Safe Return phone number. She will also be listed on their national database that anyone can call at any time to report her missing or found. This program costs $25 per year, with a $25 initial setup fee.
- Project Lifesaver: Currently offered by around 1,100 local law enforcement agencies around the country, Project Lifesaver (projectlifesaver.org; 877-580-5433) provides a wristband to its members that contains a radio transmitter and emits tracking signals. If a member goes missing, one or two officers will use the tracking equipment to quickly locate them. The cost for this service is around $30 per month with a $99 enrollment fee.
GPS Tracking
The Alzheimer's Association recently introduced a new GPS locating service called Comfort Zone (alz.org/comfortzone; 877-259-4850) that can help too. Powered by Omnilink and specifically designed for Alzheimer's patients, with this service your wife would carry or wear a small GPS tracking device that would notify you or other caregivers via text or e-mail if she were to wander beyond a pre-established area, and would let you know exactly where to find her if she did. Costs: $200 for a tracking device plus monthly service fees ranging between $43 and $80.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.
MONTGOMERY SENIOR CENTER February Calendar
MONTGOMERY SENIOR CENTER
356 Skillman Rd, Skillman, NJ
(609) 466-0846
Hours: 10:00 to 2:00, Monday through Friday
Beading - Daily
Bingo – Monday, 11:00
Birthday Celebrations – Last Friday of the Month
Blood Pressure Screening – second Monday of the Month, 9:45
Bridge – Every Monday at 1:00 and Thursday at 10:30
Chinese ESL - Every Monday, 10:15
Dominos – Daily
Line Dancing – Every Friday, 10:15
Pool Table and Cards – Daily
Silver Strength with Linda – Every Monday, 10:15
Walking Idols Club – Every Wednesday, 10:15
Yoga – Tuesday, 10:30, call for schedule
February 3 & 9 – Craft: Let’s Create Mardi Gras Masks
February 4 – Art of the Masters Workshop: Paper Collage by Romare Bearden, Creative Notions, 10:30
February 5 & 19 – Crazy Eights Card Game
February 10, 18 & 25 – Beginner Computer Class with Susan, 10:30 am
February 11 – “Love Sweet Love” by Kathryn Weidner, Storyteller, 10:00 am
February 12 – Center Closed
February 15 – Center Closed
February 16 – Mardi Gras, 10:30 am
February 17 – “Lost in Migration” Computer Focus Game with Susan
February 26 – Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Tiger, 10:15 am
Senior Freeze Income Limits Raised
The State of New Jersey Divisionof Taxation, Dept of Treasury has announced new higher income limits for the "Senior Freeze" program, aka the Property Tax Reimbursement (PTR) program. This program reimburses eligible seniors and disabled persons for property tax increases. The income limits for 2007 increased to $60,000 or less for all applicants whether single or married/in a civil union. The previous income limites for 2007 were: less than $45,135 for single applicants and less than $55,344 (combined income) for married/civil union couples.
The Division of Taxation is doing a special mailing of 2007 reimbursement applications to approximately 52,000 resident who may now be eligible because of the increase in the income limits. Applications can also be obtained in person at the Montgomery Township Tax Assessor's Office. If you did not receive a 2006 reimbursement, file a 2007 Form PTR-1. If you did receive a 2006 reimbursement, file a 2007 Form PTR-2. Form PTR-2 only is also available with instructions and further information on the State Department of Treasury website at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.shtml .
Looking ahead, the income limits for 2008 are now raised to $70,000 for either a single person or married couple/civil union. 2008 applications will be available in the spring. The income limits for 2009 will be $80,000 for a single person or a married/civil union couple.
Savvy Senior - How to Make Home a Safer Place for Seniors Dec 2009
Dear Savvy Senior
My parents have lived in the same house for more than 40 years and plan on living there the rest of their lives. The problem is, their house is two-stories and isn’t very practical for seniors. What resources can you recommend that can help my elderly parents stay safe and stay put, on a limited budget.
Safety-Conscious Sue
Dear Sue,
Your parents are like most seniors in this country. They want to stay living in their own home as long as they’re physically capable. But for many seniors in their 70’s and beyond, staying put can present some real safety challenges. Here’s what you should know.
Every year in the U.S. about 7,000 elderly people die in home-related accidents, and millions are seriously injured. Falls are the leading cause of injuries, but the elderly are also at risk for being burned by the stove or scalded by hot water. To help make your parent’s home a safer, more age-friendly place to live, here are some tips and resources that can help.
Get Informed
Your first step is to learn where the potential hazards lie in your parent’s house and what you can do to reduce them. A good place to do this is at the Home Safety Council’s Web site (www.mysafehome.net) where you can take a house tour that points out the possible dangers room-by-room. Many of the changes the site suggests are simple and inexpensive, like removing clutter and throw rugs to avoid tripping, installing brighter bulbs in existing light fixtures to improve vision and adding grab bars to the bathroom for support.
Get an Assessment
If your parents have medical issues like chronic arthritis or poor vision, ask their doctor to prescribe a home evaluation by an occupational therapist who specializes in home modifications. They can analyze the potential challenges and shortcomings of your parent’s home to come up with a plan that you, a handyman or a contractor can easily follow. Many health insurance providers, including Medicare, will pay for a home assessment. However, they will not cover the physical upgrades to the home.
Another option is to contact your nearby independent living center (see www.ilru.org). These are nonprofit centers that provide information on home modifications and assistive living equipment, and many even offer free or low-cost home assessments.
Ways to Pay
If your parents need or want to make substantial changes to their home, but don’t have the cash to pay for them, they should consider taking out a home equity loan. Another possibility is a reverse mortgage. Available to people over 62, a reverse mortgage will let your parent’s convert the equity in their home into cash that doesn’t have to be paid back as long as either one of them are living there. But the fees can be substantial, so be sure to speak with a financial planner before taking out this type of mortgage. For information on ways you can tap into your home equity, go to www.longtermcare.gov, a site run by the Department of Health and Human Services.
If your parent’s happen to have long-term care insurance, they should call their insurance agent and ask whether home modifications are covered under their plan and what documentation they need to be reimbursed. A policy will not pay for upgrades if they are still healthy.
If funds are scarce, contact the Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov to find your local office) near your parents, and inquire about home modification loans and services available to seniors. Many state and local communities have low or no-interest loans, tax credits or other programs to those with low or moderate incomes.
In addition, get in touch with Rebuilding Together (www.rebuildingtogether.org, 800-473-4229), a national nonprofit organization that repairs and modifies homes of older, low-income homeowners to help them age in place.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Savvy Senior - How to Choose a Senior-Friendly Home Telephone
Dear Savvy Senior
Where is the best place to find a senior-friendly home telephone with big buttons and amplified sound? My 78-year-old mother has a difficult time hearing over the phone anymore, and her vision isn't so great either. What can you tell me?
Loud Talking Son
Dear Loud,
Senior-friendly telephones, also known as "amplified" and/or "big button" phones are a wonderful option for seniors who need some extra help with hearing, seeing and more. Here's what you should know.
How to Choose
There are literally dozens of different kinds of senior-friendly phones on the market today that can meet almost any need. To help you cut through all the options and select a good fit for your mom, you need to take into account her needs and wants, including her:
- Hearing: What type and degree of hearing loss does your mom have? (An audiologist can help here.) Most amplified telephones are sold with varying degrees of amplification and tone adjustments, so be sure the phone you choose accommodates her hearing loss. Also note that most amplified phones are hearing aid compatible and come with extra loud ringers and flashing ring indicators.
- Vision: If low vision is a problem too, most corded amplified phones come with big buttons and high contrast numbers that make them easier to see. Some phones even offer a talking keypad that will announce the number as it's dialed.
- Memory: Is remembering a problem? If so, check out the photo phones. Photo phones let you insert pictures of family members or friends over preprogrammed buttons, so your mom can simply press the picture of the person she wants to call and they're automatically dialed.
- Voice: Does your mom speak so softly it's difficult to understand her? If so, there some amplified phones that can amplify outgoing speech as well as incoming sounds.
- Safety: If your mom lives alone, you may want to choose an amplified phone with an emergency alert feature. These phones come with a neck pendant or wristband (SOS button) that she wears, so if she falls down and can't get up, she can press it and the phone's preprogrammed emergency numbers will automatically be dialed.
- Preferences: There are many other options to consider, for example, would your mom prefer a corded or cordless amplified phone? While the cordless models provide the freedom to talk anywhere in the house, corded phones typically offer more user-friendly features. Or, would she like a phone with a built-in caller ID, speakerphone or answering machine?
Where to Shop
While there are many companies that make and sell senior-friendly telephones, the leading supplier in the industry is Clarity, a division of Plantronics Inc. At ClarityProducts.com (or call 800-426-3738) you can find an impressive array of amplified, big button telephones that offer a wide variety of senior-friendly features, at prices ranging from $30 up to around $300. Other top makers include ClearSounds, Geemarc, Fanstel, Doro, Krown and GE. To find these and other amplified phone models, visit assistive hearing sites like www.teltex.com and www.independentliving.com.
Free Phones
Another option you should check into is state funded telecommunications equipment distribution programs, which are available in about 30 states. If your mom's state has a program, you may be able to get her an amplified telephone from them for free. Check with her local telephone company or visit www.tedpa.org to find out what her state offers.
Captioned Phones
If your mom has moderate to severe hearing loss another option to consider is CapTel. This is a captioned telephone service and customized phone that will let your mom listen to the caller, as well as read written, word-for-word captions of everything the caller is saying on the CapTel phone display window. To learn more or order a phone, go to www.captel.com (or call 888-269-7477) and click on the state your mom lives in. Most states offer them through Weitbrecht Communications, Inc. for $99, or your mom may qualify to get one for free.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.
Savvy Senior - Living Wills: Planning for the inevitable
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend some good resources to help my wife and I create our living wills? We want to avoid any artificial life-support at the end of our life, but would also like to avoid a high-priced attorney to get them. What can you tell me?
Procrastinating Paul
Dear Paul,
Creating a living will is one of those things most people want and plan to do, but rarely get around to actually doing. Less than 30 percent of Americans currently have one. But preparing one now, gives you say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life, not to mention it can spare your loved ones some very stressful decisions at an emotional time. Here's what you should know.
Advance Directives
To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you need two legal documents: A "living will" which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated. And a "medical power of attorney" (or health care proxy) which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to. These two documents are known as advance directives.
Do-It-Yourself
Today, there are several free or low-cost resources to help you write your advance directive, and it takes only a few minutes from start to finish. Here are some good places to find help:
??Caring Connections: A resource created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that provides free information and state-specific advance directive forms with instructions on their Web site (www.caringinfo.org) that you can download and print. Or, you can call 800-658-8898 and they will mail them to you and answer any questions you may have.
- Aging with Dignity: An advocacy organization that offers an easy-to-use legal document called "Five Wishes" that covers all facets of an advance directive. Five Wishes is legally valid in 40 states and costs $5. To get a copy, visit www.agingwithdignity.org or call 888-594-7437.
- Online resources: For under $15 Web sites like www.legacywriter.com and www.uslegalwills.com can create a living will and medical power of attorney for you by asking you questions and inserting your answers. Once you're finished, you simply print it out (or they can mail it to you) and sign it with two witnesses present to make it legal. You may also need to get it notarized depending on the state you live in. Or, if you're looking for a little extra help, try www.legalzoom.com. This site works like the others but will then have a specialist review your answers for completeness. The cost for this service starts at $39.
- U.S. Living Will Registry: This is a nifty service that electronically stores your advance directive and organ donor information and makes these documents available to your family or health care providers 24 hours a day via the Internet or telephone. The cost to register is $125. See www.uslivingwillregistry.com for more information.
Multipurpose Planning
If you looking for a comprehensive estate planning tool "Quicken WillMaker Plus 2010" (www.nolo.com; 800-728-3555) is a top resource that uses computer software to create state-specific living wills, as well as property wills, trusts and many other documents. You can purchase it as a downloadable software program for $44, or you can get it on a CD for $50.
Savvy Tips: To insure your final wishes are followed, be very thorough when you create your living will and medical power of attorney documents and give copies to your family and doctor. It's also important to have a direct, candid conversation with your health care proxy and doctor so they know exactly what you want. And don't forget to review your advance directive every few years and update it when necessary.
If you would rather use a lawyer to draft your advance directive, look for one who specializes in estate planning and health care related matters. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org), and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (www.naepc.org) are good resources to start with.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.
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