As featured in North Hawaii News June 16, 2015
I am pleased to announce that I’ve joined forces with fellow columnist John Roth, of “Just Ask John.” We are going to give a collaborative presentation at Tutu’s House July 29 and August 2 called “Preparing for Incapacity.”
John and I make a great team because whether it’s legal decisions or daily tasks, our clientele are often experiencing a similar situation: laying the groundwork to assist their spouse or parent with the care of their entire world. This task can be overwhelming, which is why we have decided to create this program. John and I have found that our combined perspectives offer more well-rounded information.
Our goal is to educate our community about the importance of planning for the possibility that you will be caring for someone with cognitive decline which may lead to incapacity. The odds are in our favor based on current demographics that many of us will be in this position. Having conversations about these things now can help alleviate an overwhelming amount of decisions to make in the future.
Last month I wrote about the value of having conversations in order to know your loved ones’ preferences before they pass away. John enlightened me about a website, www.DeathOverDinner.org, which guides families through those conversations. Hopefully, tools like this will assist you with choices that may lie ahead.
For those of you who do not know John Roth, he is a dynamic trust and estate attorney who loves to educate people in the gentlest of ways. We met when my husband and I established our will. He has a wonderful way of helping you find the right plan for your priorities and preferences. John’s understanding of the legal decisions you may face compliments my understanding of the emotional and lifestyle dynamics that you are likely to experience.
I hope our joint perspectives will support our community and prepare you for the possibility that you could be making the tough choices for your loved one.
