A Guide to Putting Your Affairs in Order

When diagnosed with a terminal illness, one of the tasks patients need to address is ensuring that their personal paperwork is in order. Despite the negative connotations of this task, it can be a very empowering process that delivers great peace-of-mind. Here are some tips to help with that process from our hospice in South Jersey.

A Checklist of Basic Documentation

Every person’s situation and requirements are unique, but the basics apply to everyone. The general documentation and information you should gather into a file includes:

General information

1. Your full legal name, social security number, date and location of birth and current address.
2. The names and contact information for your spouse, children or nearest dependents.
3. A list of your current medications and contact information for your doctors.
4. A copy of your Living Will, Advance Directive, Last Will and Testament and Power of Attorney documents, and your lawyer’s contact details /whoever holds the original documents.
5. A copy of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, citizenship documentation, etc. and instructions on where the originals are located.
6. Military records, if applicable.

Financial information

1. Medicare/Medicaid information.
2. Social security information.
3. Credit/debit card information.
4. List of bank accounts and safety deposit box information.
5. Insurance information – life insurance, homeowner’s insurance, car insurance, long-term care insurance, etc.
6. Copy of your financial Power of Attorney documents with instructions on where the originals are held.
7. List of assets and liabilities and instructions on where the deed for your home, car title and other property documents are located.

Additional information

1. Instructions on pet care and guardianship, as well as their veterinary contact information, pet insurance, etc.
2. List of monthly household bills and instructions — electricity and gas, internet, water and sewerage, real estate taxes, maintenance providers (garden service, trash, etc.).

Wellness-Focused End-of-Life Care at Our Hospice in South Jersey

At The Shores, a part of the well-known United Methodist Communities non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer a compassionate, professional hospice neighborhoods in the Jersey Shore area called Bridges. In this program, we focus on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for patients and their loved ones through customized care programs and compassionate support. To find out more about our hospice in the Jersey Shore area, please visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/hospice-care-nj/ or contact us today and organize your visit.