By Sharon Hurley Hall

It makes sense to plan your funeral in advance. Here are some of the areas you may be concerned about.

1. What happens if the funeral plan provider goes out of business?

While this is considered unlikely, monies paid by you for your funeral plan will be received in accordance with the code of conduct of the UK’s National Association of Pre-paid Funeral Plans (NAPFP) and will be fully protected. The money for your funeral is held in a a trust - a separate legal entity - which is regularly audited by independent actuaries and accountants. So your funeral would still be carried out according to your guaranteed funeral plan and the funeral director would be paid from the trust fund.

2. What if I move home?

Your guarantee is simply relocated to another funeral director convenient to your new home. If you decide to live abroad, you may apply for a refund. If you move home, please notify your funeral plan provider as soon as possible so we can ensure all records are up to date.

3. What are the advantages of paying for my funeral now? Why not put the money into a savings account?

Once you have paid for a pre-paid funeral plan, you will never have to pay any more for the funeral director’s costs no matter how much these costs may rise in the future. No savings account can provide such a guarantee. In recent years funeral expenses have increased in excess of inflation. So why not secure your funeral requirements at today’s price and then use the remainder of your savings just how you want!

4. What happens if the designated funeral director ceases to trade?

Your funeral plan provider will make the same arrangements with another local funeral director.

5. Are there any age or health limitations on who can purchase a funeral plan?

No. And no. Simple as that.

6. What if I want to take out a plan for someone else?

No problem, as long as the plan is suitable and required by that person.

7. What about insurance based funeral plans?

They have several disadvantages. Principally they don’t guarantee to cover funeral costs or allow you to specify the arrangements. Even if you are in reasonable health, you may well end up paying much more in premiums than the insurance company will ever pay out and the funeral would need to be paid for, often well before the insurance paid out.

8. What if I die away from home?

Each plan includes collection from within a specified distance. If you are travelling away from your local area additional costs may be incurred. If you travel abroad you should obtain travel insurance to cover all eventualities.

9. Do funeral plans include burial?

Nowadays, most people are cremated. Accordingly the cost of a burial plot is usually not included. However, should you wish to be buried your funeral plan provider will be pleased to discuss this with you, with a view to you purchasing a plot at a cemetery of your choice. The cost and availability of a plot varies considerably throughout the country. If you already have a burial plot please provide the funeral plan provider with the information.

Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor. For more information on prepaid funeral plans, visit LSUK funerals To contact Sharon, visit http://www.sharonhh.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hurley_Hall

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By Rosemarie Zera

1. It is extremely important to find out, as soon as possible, the names and phone numbers of their doctors, as well as, all the medications they take regularly.

2. Do they have a Living Will (also known as an Advanced Medical Directive). If not, what are their wishes in the event they are in critical condition and can’t speak for themselves. Whatever their choice, it should be in writing.

3. Don’t try to handle everything alone. If you have no siblings or they are unwilling to help, ask your parent’s doctor for recommendations, look for agencies that specialize in senior care, check elderly care websites.

Find products made for elderly and/or disabled people, so they can maintain their independence longer. Two such products I found to be extremely helpful were: a wheeled walker w/seat and a fold up wheelchair.

4. If your parent does wind up in the hospital, rehab or nursing home - talk to the staff. Ask questions -about treatment about medications about any tests being done about the results of those tests about anything you notice that is not “normal” for your parent.

Note:Your loved one gets better treatment when the staff sees that you’re paying attention (respectfully and diplomatically - not belligerently) And since mistakes do happen, staying vigilant could prevent serious consequences.

5. When people have a hearing impairment, speaking LOUDER does NOT necessarily solve the problem.

It may be that the person cannot hear certain sounds - such as ch, sh, or several others. Substituting different words, rephrasing a sentence, speaking slower and facing the person all may have better results than SHOUTING.

6. The “experts” (doctors, dietitians, etc) who claim that the only way to live a long healthy life is to stay away from sugar and eat vegetables don’t “know it all.” My dad is 90 years old - eats cake at every meal and absolutely refuses to eat any vegetables or salad. And, he is neither obese, nor is he a diabetic. Go figure!

7.In caring for your aging parents - patience, diplomacy, and love go a long way - but if that doesn’t work, you sometimes have to use trickery to keep them from harming themselves or others.

Bonus: #8 - A sense of humor is mandatory.

About the Author: Rosemarie Zera - After running a Bookkeeping Business in New Jersey- for over ten years, she moved to San Antonio, Texas to care for her elderly parents. Enjoys decorating, reading, having fun with her grandkids. Recently started a BLOG about the issues facing babyboomers caring for their aging parents. More information and resources can be found on website: http://www.babyboomeragingparents.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosemarie_Zera

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The Home Office’s Migration Advisory Committee - yes, your government, today said that care home fees will increase swiftly under new plans to cut work visas for low wage migrants.

The running costs of care homes are expected to rise as government advisers said that relying on low paid immigrants is not a sensible long term policy.

The landmark statement – which contrasts sharply with Labour’s dependence on overseas doctors and nurses – came from the Home Office’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The MAC announced plans to cut the quantity of so-called ‘shortage occupation’ jobs accessible to non-EU migrants by around 30 per cent, to 700,000. The number of migrants functioning here will only decrease by an estimated 20,000.

The UK has 21,000 care homes. Most are reliant on migrant workers, with the Philippines alone claiming to supply 25,000 staff. Many obtain the bare minimum wage, with even senior care workers paid less than £7 per hour.

Within the new boundaries, only trained care workers earning at least £8.80 an hour will be permitted to come to Britain – a salary level most care-home owners say they will not be able to pay.
Possible closures are warned or significant increases in fees. English Community Care Association chief executive Martin Green called the MAC’s plan ‘unrealistic and unworkable’. He added: ‘The MAC have failed to understand that the care-home sector is largely publicly-funded and the funding received is simply not enough to pay £8.80 per hour in the majority of cases.’

The MAC’s published report said it was likely that, by restricting migrant labour, the cost of supplying public services would ‘increase’. ‘Although we recognise that many public budgets may be fixed in the short term, in the longer run it would not be sensible to supply these important services on the basis of low-paid immigrant labour.’

Planning for your care homes and protecting as much of your assets is now even more important. Seek out a professional to talk though your worries and to help start your planning.

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Action on Elder Abuse, whose website can be found at http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/ has told of thousands of elderly people being financially abused by their families and friends. The elderly are having their possessions, life savings and even their homes taken by close members of their own family.

The problem is so bad, say the charity that they estimate that tens of millions of pounds could be involved. Solicitors have said that the rise in financial abuse may be due to the substantial increases in property prices over these last few years.

The charity warns that a lack of awareness of the predicament makes such crimes easy. More and more people are contacting the charity for help.

The charity isn’t saying this happens to every family, but the problem is wide-scale. Large sums of money are involved. The financial abuse can include:
* Theft on money and possessions from an older person
* Benefits collected by family being withheld
* Older people being forced to sell their homes or being remortgaged to raise money for other family members.

Last year the government made good measures to ensure that Powers of Attorney became much more difficult to exploit. These legal documents can protect the finance of anyone, not just the elderly. They require the ‘donor’ (the owner of the finances) to nominate an ‘attorney’ (the person who will manage the finances) so that the right person or people can be involved. The documents can be used while a person has their full capacity, or after it is lost (maybe even temporary).

Say the charity “Many aged people are too embarrassed to say what has happened, or perhaps do not realise what has happened because of their mental decline.” “We need to create a culture in which people can blow the whistle when they find something suspicious because we can’t allow so may older people to be defrauded.”

LSUK recommends everyone to take out a power of attorney to protect their finances in later years. It may not be 100% foolproof to stop all theft from family members, but it places legal considerations in place that may put off most potential family criminals, because it most certainly is a crime.

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If you die without a will, your assets (after debts) are gifted in a manner called intestacy laws. These laws have been out of date for years, but finally the government is going to update them from February 2009, for England and Wales.

Currently, if you die without making a will and you leave a spouse/civil partner and children, the spouse is only entitled to the first £125,000 of your estate. This often means that a family home might need to be sold. This figure is going to be increased next year to £250,000 meaning that more spouses/civil partner will not need to sell the family home, just to abide by the laws of intestacy.

If you don’t leave a will but leave a spouse/civil partner and you have no children, then currently your spouse can claim just £200,000. This figure will increase to a more sensible £450,000. There appears more chance that in these circumstances that the spouse/civil partner will be able to keep the family home and probably some other financial assets as well as the average priced house in the UK is well below this level, unless of course, you live inside the M25 and those other selected areas.

The government was worried that intestacy figures had fallen out of line with real life.

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said: “This increase will give extra protection to married couples and civil partners whose spouse or civil partner dies without making a will.”

“But it also highlights how important it is for both men and women to make arrangements for their loved ones in the event of their deaths.”

“Married couples and civil partners should not assume that when their spouse or civil partner dies, they will automatically be entitled to everything. It is up to individuals to make sure that their wishes are respected by making a will.”

“My message to people is, don’t leave it to chance. Make sure your loved ones are properly provided for by leaving a will.”

LSUK completely agree with that last statement; why leave matters to chance when for a relatively small fee, you can put your will writing affairs in order?

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Legal Services (UK) Limited has teamed up with Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), a unique national charity fighting life-threatening liver disease, to offer its supporters the opportunity to make or update their wills at a specially discounted fee.

CLDF is hoping that this special offer might encourage supporters to consider leaving a legacy to enable it to continue its vital work in research, education and family services.

What is a legacy?

A legacy is a gift of money or belongings left in a will to benefit other people or organisations such as charities. It is a means of providing for your loved ones and supporting the causes which are important to you.

Did you know…?

• At least two children are diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease every day in the UK

• More children in the UK are currently diagnosed with a liver disease than childhood leukaemia

• Most childhood liver diseases are life threatening; all mean a lifetime of care

• There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect babies, children or young people

• For most childhood liver diseases the causes are unknown

• Liver disease has no cure

Why leave a legacy to CLDF?

• CLDF is the only UK charity working exclusively on behalf of babies and children suffering from liver disease

• It funds vital research into treatments and cures for childhood liver conditions

• CLDF provides information and practical support to families when they need it most

• CLDF is independent and can speak on behalf of children and families to government and the Department of Health

• CLDF has achieved a great deal - but much more remains to be done

• A legacy is a tax-free way to make a significant gift to charity

If you’d like to find out more about CLDF please visit the website at: www.childliverdisease.org or call them on 0121 212 3839.

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Sir George Pinker was the Royal gynecologist who delivered the two children of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Princes William and Harry.

He left one and a half million pounds sterling in his estate. The bulk of that estate went to his four children, Ian, William, Robert, Catherine.

Sir George died in April 2007 at the age of 82. He was The Queen’s surgeon-gynecologist from 1793 until 1990.

He also treated Princess Diana when she fell down the stairs at Sandringham when she was pregnant with William.

His late wife, Dorothy, died in 2003.

As a final wish he left a request that eight of his closest friends be treated to a weekend break at the Lygon Arms which is a 16th century hotel located near to his home in Broadway in Worcestershire.

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We all say we trust our doctors with our lives, but how do we trust others with our money if we’re not around or able to manage that money?

This can be looked at from two points of view;
1. The trustees you appoint if it’s a trust you’re setting up and
2. The trustees looking after your money if you’re a beneficiary from a trust

Trust law is extremely complex. If you have any doubts you should take professional advice, but this may prove costly.

Trustees have a number of powers, duties and responsibilities. In applying any investment powers they may have, the trustees have got to think about the correctness of the investments for all beneficiaries, keep them under evaluation and change them if suitable.

If you’re appointing trustees you need to appoint people who are going to be able to carry out the tasks you set them. It may be a trust in a will and you won’t be able to see over what they’re doing because for them to be working your trust, you’ll have died first.

You need to select people you trust to carry out the task just as you’d want it completing. You should speak with your trustees and ensure they know exactly what you expect of them, but always remember that when you’ve handed over the task, via a Will, for example, then it will be up to them to find the most suitable way to carry out your requests. Laws change and financial circumstances change. They’ll need to adapt to situations you might not have imagined.

If the trustees are managing money for you as a beneficiary of the trust, then you don’t have any say in what they’re doing, but if you feel they’re not acting correctly (to be polite) then you can go to court (as a last resort) and have a judge look at the trust and to analyze how they’re managing the trust. You should talk with the trustees first to raise your concerns.

If this is your chosen route, you’ll need to balance the cost of going to court against the potential gains you’ll (maybe) make.

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Fire damage can hit your home; you could lose your house. What would you do about all those important pieces of paperwork and other essentials that you’d need to replace if your originals burnt? You need an airplane’s ‘black box’.

Your ‘black box’ is a fire proof safe to keep your important papers and important family items, but whatever you do, don’t keep your Will or your power of attorney in it!

Here’s what you’d need to put into your safe:

1. Your insurance policies and contact information; you’ll need this straight away after a fire or other home damage

2. Passports and birth certificates can be slow and costly to replace so keep them safe

3. Keep a list of your family’s medications, prescriptions, doctor’s information; you may need new prescriptions quickly

4. A hard drive or CD/DVDs of family photos is important as the loss of these is devastating, and value way beyond their financial cost. They may be impossible to replace. The same could be said of your MP3 collection!

5. Investment papers, pension documents, bank and building society information and relevant contact information. You may need to contact them quickly

6. Debts, credit card bills with due dates and contact information. Missing payment dates could lead to further bills and charges

7. Anything to do with national insurance, numbers and information; benefit details

8. Copies of your Will, copies of your power of attorney, copies of your living will, copies of your house title deeds, foreign property information. It’s important that you don’t keep your originals in the fire safe as all other documents listed in 1 to 7 above can be replaced, even with hassle, but your originals can’t be replaced – you’d have to start again. The copies you should keep in your safe will help you contact your will writing company to get new copies to you. If you had the original Will and power of attorney for example, you’d need new versions so they can be signed and witnessed again and therefore, legally valid. The originals should be kept in your will writing company’s bomb proof, fire proof, water proof safes. Those safes will withstand almost certainly anything your home safe may not, but something at home is much better than nothing.

Always use your will writing company’s safe storage facility (having asked about its quality first!) - don’t risk it for the sake of a few pence a day.

Please use the comments box to add any thoughts you have on this subject.

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Your professional consultant that helps you with the drafting of your power of attorney will ask you a number of questions that are designed to ensure that you know exactly what you’re doing, that you’re making your own choices and that you complete the paperwork correctly.

After we’ve talked about a power of attorney (called a Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales) we’ll ask you to briefly explain what one is so we can be sure you know enough about the document and what it will do for you, your family, your partner and your colleagues.

We’ll ask you who suggested that you make a power of attorney (POA)? We want to ensure that you’re not making one under someone else’s influence to gain access to your money and property, unlawfully.

Asking you why you want to make a POA will help us know what suggestions we can make to guide you to the best result.

Who you are appointing as attorneys is most important. We won’t tell you who to appoint, but we can give you plus and minus points about different arrangements.

Why have you appointed those people - is another question we’ll ask you. We want to ensure that they’re capable, knowledgable and not pressurising you.

What powers do you want to give to your attorneys? Do you understand what those powers mean?

We’ll ask you (alone) if anyone has pressurised you into making the POA. We won’t allow an illegal action to take place.

We’ll take notes of anyone present during the original meeting and the signing process to ensure that you’re doing what you would like, when you want to, in the manner that you desire

After all, we’re here to help you.

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