Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, January 14, 2017

THE GOOD LIFE

10

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 14, 2017 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR AFFAIRS


Dear Savvy Senior,

My wife and I would like to get our personal and 
financial affairs in order so our kids will know 
what’s going on if we get sick or die. What tips can 
you offer? 

Procrastinating Paul

Dear Paul,

Organizing your key information and getting your 
personal and financial affairs in order is a great gift 
to your loved ones. 

 To help you get started, your first step is to gather 
up all of your important personal, financial and 
legal information so you can arrange it in a format 
that will benefit you now, and your loved ones later. 

Then you’ll need to sit down and create various lists 
of important information and instructions of how 
you want certain things handled when you die or 
if you become incapacitated. Here’s a checklist of 
areas you need to focus on.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

 Contacts: Make a master list of names and 
phone numbers of close friends, clergy, doctors, 
and professional advisers such as your lawyer, 
accountant, broker and insurance agent. 

 Medical information: Include a list of 
medications you and your spouse take, along with 
any allergies and illnesses. 

 Personal documents: Include such items as your 
birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage 
license, military discharge papers, etc. 

 Secured places: List all the places you keep under 
lock and key or protected by password, such as safe 
deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, 
etc. 

 Service providers: Provide contact information 
of the companies or people who provide you 
regular services such as utility companies, lawn 
service, etc. 

 Pets: If you have a pet, give instructions for the 
care of the animal. 

 End of life: Indicate your wishes for organ and 
tissue donation (see organdonor.gov), and write 
out your funeral instructions. If you’ve made 
pre-arrangements with a funeral home include a 
copy of agreement, their contact information and 
whether you’ve prepaid or not. 

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

 Will, trust and estate plan: Include the original 
copy of your will and other estate planning 
documents you’ve made. 

 Financial power of attorney: This document 
names someone you trust to handle money matters 
if you’re incapacitated. 

 Advance health care directives: These documents 
(see caringinfo.org) – a living will and medical 
power of attorney – spell out your wishes regarding 
your end-of-life medical treatment when you can 
no longer make decisions for yourself. 

FINANCIAL RECORDS

 Financial accounts: Make a list of all your bank 
accounts, brokerage and mutual fund accounts, 
and any other financial assets you have.

 Debts and liabilities: Make a list of any loans, 
leases or debt you have – mortgages owed, car loans, 
student loans, medical bills, credit card debts. Also, 
make a list of all credit and charge cards, including 
the card numbers and contact information.

 Company benefits: List any retirement plans, 
pensions or health benefits from your current or 
former employer including the contact information 
of the benefits administrator. 

 Insurance: List the insurance policies you 
have (life, long-term care, home, auto, Medicare, 
Medigap, prescription drug, etc.) including the 
policy numbers, agents and phone numbers. 

 Property: List real estate, vehicles and other 
properties you own, rent or lease and include 
documents such as deeds, titles, and loan or lease 
agreements. 

 Taxes: Include the location of your tax records 
and your tax preparer’s contact information. 

 Keep all your organized information and files 
together in one convenient location, ideally in a 
fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home. Also 
be sure to review and update it every year, and don’t 
forget to tell your loved ones where they can find it. 

If you need help, get a copy of “12 Critical Things 
Your Family Needs to Know.” This is an excellent 
60-page workbook available at 12criticalthings.
com for $15 or $19 for the downloadable versions, 
or $25 for a printed copy.

 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.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …January Birthdays*

 Gerald Day, Mary Tassop, Judy Webb-Martin, John Johnson, Mary Bickel, 
Marlene Enmark, Shirley Wolf, Ross Kellock, Ruth Wolter, Sue Watanabe, Sandy 
Thistlewaite, Bobbi Rahmanian, Fran Syverson, Shirley Wolff, Judy Zaretzka and 
Becky Evans. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required

...................................................................

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart 
Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 

 YWCA San Gabriel Valley - Intervale Senior Cafe 

Seniors 60 years of age and up can participate in the YWCA Intervale daily lunch program held at the 
Hart Park House Senior Center. Meals are served Monday through Friday at 12:00 pm and participants 
are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 am. Meals are a suggested donation of $3.00 for seniors 60 and over or 
$5.00 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary, space is limited. Please reserve your lunch 
by calling 626-355-0256.

Tech Talk: Will resume in the fall. 

Hawaiian and Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10:00 - 11:00am. Join instructor 
Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula. 

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00 pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to join. May 
be cancelled if less than 5 people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11:00am - 12:00 pm. No appt. necessary. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 - 11:45am. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the 
classes is requested, but is not required. 

Case Management: Meets the second Thursday of the month. Case Management services are provided by 
the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required and can be scheduled 
by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394. 

Birthday Celebrations: Every second Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House. The free birthday 
cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

 Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00 pm. (Please note the time change.) A regular group of 
seniors play poker. Other games available for use. 

 Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45 - 1:30 pm with Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes 
light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the class are provided. 

Senior Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 

SENIOR EXCURSION - 

Proposed 2017 Trips

January The Broad Museum (Sold Out)

February St. Sophia’s Cathedral

March Walt Disney Concert Hall

April Tanaka Farm Strawberry Tour

May The Getty Villa

June Guided Dogs of America and The Wildlife Learning Center

July Gardens of the World

August Gondola Getaway

September Riley’s at Oak Glen

November Japanese American National Museum

December Mission Inn

Excursion Refund Policy

Notification of the cancellation must be made at least 3 business days before the excursion. A refund will 
only be issued; 1) for medical excuse or 2) if the Department is able to fill the patron’s spot from a waiting 
list. This refund will be issued in the form of a credit which will be applied to the patron’s account with 
the City, less a $13 Cancellation Fee. The credit will remain on your account for one year from the date 
issued and the credit may be used for any program or service offered by the Library & Community 
Services Dept.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com