Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: Get your affairs in order

One wonderful gift a person can give to one’s family is to put all affairs in order before a disaster or medical emergency. A physical folder plus a file on the computer is ideal. Family members must be informed about the location of these files.

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

• A list of all passwords

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

• Deed and titles to all properties

• 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 Directive appropriate to your state of residence

• Safe and security box information such as codes and locations

• Durable Power of Attorney

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

While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents in fifty facilities for seniors. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs. http://www.JewishPavilion.org.