Support
means being there, asking the right questions and listening to your answers. Support
is also listening to your questions and addressing your concerns, while remaining
flexible and adapting to the changing situation. The
results are, over time, a demonstrable improvement in the quality of life, security
and happiness.
It is important to emphasize flexibility. Elder-Advisor recognizes the challenges
presented and that many decisions should not be made in stone. Things do change
and Elder-Advisor expects and prepares for change by proactively anticipating
and researching the desires, worries and curiosities of the client.
Regardless of age, any person considering outside assistance is a delicate subject.
There are so many emotional and practical issues. Given that you are reading this
web site, it is very likely you are either an elder or an adult child facing difficult
choices. Hopefully you are together, researching possible solutions to the challenges.
Elder-Advisor offers close personal assistance and support through tough times
and over the long term. 
In
Depth Usefulness
has high value. Evaluate
Elder-Advisor does the leg work of information gathering and organizing, easing
planning tasks and getting your estate current. The service includes a critical
inventory of health, quality of life and the estate. No detail is too small. Elder-Advisor
produces a series of indispensable reference tools, including: Health history
and expenses; organizing tax, legal and estate planning issues; Budget analysis
and management; Listings of assets, location, appraisals, advisors, titles, cost
basis, etc. Coordinate
Because Elder-Advisor is designed for the more sophisticated estate, Elder-Advisor’s
usefulness has high value, especially when coordinating your ‘Team’. Your family
probably has long and reliable relationships with the many Professionals and Advisors
that comprise your Team. Elder-Advisor does not want to change that. Elder-Advisor
works non-competitively with your existing Team for your benefit, adding value
by enhancing the capabilities of all concerned. Elder-Advisor can be the ‘hub’
of your team by providing information, facilitating communication and expanding
the Team’s knowledge and cooperation. The
process works best when Team members are integrated by a knowledgeable, discrete
and trustworthy individual. Historically this has often been a family member or
Attorney. Elder-Advisor has the experience, will take the time and understands
that each step and priority can be critical. With dozens of elements from many
disciplines it is often complex. Elder-Advisor can effectively and efficiently
be the conductor to the orchestra of soloists that are your Team. And
should new Team members be needed, each must be carefully screened for your approval.
Because Elder-Advisor accepts no fees or commissions from any person or company
advising your affairs, conflicts of interest may be minimized. Our allegiance
is only to the elders and their family.
Elder-Advisor strives to make family affairs as easy as possible, so that family
time can be as meaningful as possible. Implement
Rare indeed is the perennially perfect individual, health or estate plan.
Therefore your Team will advise some adjustments. Once the family has made decisions,
Elder-Advisor oversees the assignments and follows through. Elder-Advisor does
not practice law or medicine. Only your lawyer, doctor or financial advisor can
address the specific issues of your situation. Elder-Advisor’s top level logistic
approach is helpful by filling in gaps, following through on paperwork and getting
priorities completed on time.
Despite the best of intentions, plans are often left unimplemented until it is
too late. This can only cause unnecessary expenses and unanticipated results.
Elder-Advisor’s approach of comprehensive management means even future events
can be attended to as planned. Monitor
If we know anything, we know the world always changes. This is true of our happiness,
health, wealth and the tax code. So it is vital to remain flexible in one’s planning.
Because Elder-Advisor continues to monitor the elder’s health, wealth and well
being, changes can be more easily accommodated. Elder-Advisor continues to stay
on top of record management, bills and organizing for tax preparation. We seek
to maintain the strength and importance of our relationship with the Elder and
their family over the long term.
Elders can remain independent for as long as possible and adult children have
the peace of mind knowing nothing is being neglected. Elder-Advisor is a very
special, discrete and private, long term service.
Core
Services
Our task is delicate and deep This
laundry list is but a start: Organize
the Estate: From locating assets and documents to inventory and assessment.
Coordinate Team of Professionals: Doctors, Physical Therapists, Geriatric
Care Managers; Attorneys, Estate Planners, ElderLaw specialists; Portfolio and
Fund Managers, Financial Planners, CPAs, Bank and Trust Officers, Family Home
Office administrators, Life and Health Insurance Professionals, etc. Of course
this list tends to get rather long. Orchestrate
Daily Needs: Health, Medical, Homecare and Safety; Banking, Budgets, Bills
and Insurance claims; Social, Cultural and Travel; household help and home companions.
Communication and Monitoring: Keeping key family members, friends and professionals
informed of developments and changes. Elder-Advisor saves you times and helps
avoid mistakes. Clear and regular family communication is one of the greatest
asset protection tools available. Relocation:
Addressing Real Estate issues from both a practical and a tax viewpoint; Proper
downsizing can be sensible and economically effective, if the many logistics are
properly managed.
Family Archive: The digital preservation and presentation of your family’s
legacy. If
it sounds like a lot of work…it is!
There are many hats to wear. Handled adeptly,
it draws upon personal experience and the skills of many disciplines.
When
do you need Elder-Advisor? Ideally
the elder(s), the family and their professionals should begin working with Elder-Advisor
before a crisis ever occurs. But that simply is not human nature. The realities
of mortality and long term care are issues typically addressed only when they
happen. No one likes to think about them and when they do, it is in the context
of other people. Rare is the individual that wants to face the fact that they
too could be next. Such is human nature.
Therefore it is likely you are reading this because of the stresses you face as
an elder, as a care giving partner or as a professional who has a client in a
stressful situation. Most often this is due to a Trigger or Nuclear Event.
Trigger Events: A trigger event is a crisis that requires a period of adjustment,
the protection of assets and the preservation of dignity.
Elder-Advisor is a dependable entity to help Elders manage the logistics of adapting,
reinventing and establishing a new way of life.
Elder-Advisor can be integral when managing the aftermath of ‘trigger events’.
A trigger or ‘nuclear event’ is any major upset to the status quo of life that
requires a strategic change. Because of this upset, emotions aside, the logistics
can be overwhelming for all concerned. Often the trigger event is a separation
due to the illness or death of a spouse. Advanced Alzheimer’s disease is one example.
A trigger event can leave one spouse alone for the first time in decades and the
foundations of their world can seem to crumble. Unfortunately this is becoming
an increasingly common situation. Elder-Advisor can help now and as time goes
by. You
may be an adult child living away from your parents who, like me a few years ago,
came back from visiting your parents very concerned and wondering what to do for
them next. Or you may be someone facing care partner stress. Elder-Advisor may
well be a solution to your situation. Please read on.
A
Coordinated and flexible strategy wherein the family maintains control Control
is retained by the client. Decisions are made by the client and their advisors.
Although Elder-Advisor does not make the decisions, we do want to simplify each
stage of the process. Elder-Advisor can be very effective for keeping the story
straight. This alone can save substantial amounts of time, emotion and money.
Elder-Advisor has the background to ask the right questions, to get accurate answers
and to prepare your information for you, your Professionals and your family. Not
knowing something can weigh heavy upon the psyche. Answers can go a long way to
achieving peace of mind. For
the inexperienced, organizing the Legal and financial affairs of the Estate, in
addition to managing all the healthcare issues, can be a daunting endeavor.
Elder-Advisor also understands the value of technology and communication when
doing the hands-on work of organizing and preparing. Information technology plays
a major role in many of Elder-Advisor’s tasks. And when appropriate we seek to
integrate communication and entertainment technologies into the daily life of
the Elder.
And for the elder there are those times when technology is only a roadblock. For
example: navigating modern corporations and communication systems. For some, just
getting to the right person on the phone can be a challenge. Phones numbers that
lead to menus only frustrate and discourage the caller, with unintended result
of neglect. Elder-Advisor does the leg work for you.
Elder-Advisor-
what we are not 
Elder-Advisor does not practice law; but knows what steps need to be taken to
successfully work with Estate and Elderlaw Attorneys.
Elder-Advisor
does not practice medicine; but will coordinate with medical providers to ensure
a cohesive and economic plan for care, prescriptions and claims.
Elder-Advisor does not practice financial planning; but does understand
financial strategies and vehicles, and how to work effectively with your consultants.
Elder-Advisor
is not a CPA; but continuously collects and prepares materials for your CPA especially
for annual returns and tax avoidance strategies.
Elder-Advisor
is not a real estate agent; but has performed downsizing, relocation and has rental
property it actively manages.
Elder-Advisor
is not an appraiser or auctioneer; but has successfully liquidated portions of
estates.
Elder-Advisor
constructs a Daily Money Management tracking budget of
monthly expenses, an
important and versatile tool. Though
the list goes on, you should now have a sense of the extent of knowledge, disciplines,
effort and comfort Elder-Advisor brings. If you want to know more please continue
reading the website or drop me a line. | 
