Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to make a much awaited announcement about an issue that affects us all. And no matter what your thoughts are about the topic of their announcement or even what you call it, if you or your loved ones have already benefitted from any element of it or if you don’t believe there is any benefit to it at all, there is one thing to be said about ObamaCare or the Affordable Care Act that we can all agree upon. It has gotten the nation talking about healthcare—at home, in offices and through the din of cable television chatter. And that is a good thing.  There is a lot of time to talk about how today’s ruling will affect you (or not), but the truth is that there is no time like the present for us as caregivers to make our own and our loved ones’ healthcare decisions.

Fearless Caregiver Family Checklist
The most loving gift a person can give to one’s family is to put your affairs in order before a disaster or medical emergency. To assist in providing that gift, we have compiled the following list. The information and documents you should have prepared include:

• All bank accounts, account numbers and types of accounts, and the location of banks.

• Insurance companies, policy numbers, beneficiary as stated on the policies and type of insurance (health, life, long-term care, automobile, etc.).

• Deed and titles to ALL property.

• Loan/lien information, who holds them and if there are any death provisions.

• Social Security and Medicare numbers.

• Military history, affiliations and papers (including discharge papers).

• Up-to-date Will in a safe place (inform family where the Will is located).

• Living Will or other Advanced Directives appropriate to your state of residence.

• Durable Power of Attorney.

• Instructions for funeral services and burial (if arrangements have been secured, name and location of funeral home).

Stay tuned.  No matter what happens, there will be lots more talking to come.