DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

This is a true story, and a glaring testament to the dangers of denial. Any one of these scenarios could so easily have been prevented with advance planning.

They were just like thousands of other couples in the area, who lived in the same house for over forty years, and expected to be there until the day they died, without making any allowance for decreasing capabilities or the loss of a partner. Both were in their eighties, with significant health problems; she was totally dependent on him after heart surgery, and he was overwhelmed by the ever increasing burden of their care.

Sadly, when they were offered assistance to find a suitable new home where they could enjoy the security of regular meals, assistance with daily care, and the comfort of knowing there was always help at hand, he was adamant he would not consider moving.

Shortly thereafter, as he rushed to answer the phone, he tripped on a lamp cord that lay across his path and fell headlong into the living room wall. In that instant, life as they knew it was over. With her husband unconscious on the floor, and unaccustomed to reaching her walker without his assistance, she struggled to get to the phone and call 911 for help.

As the wail of the ambulance sirens faded in the distance, and with no children or relatives to call on, she was left alone with their little dog. The City of Dallas, Crisis Intervention was notified, and she was moved to an interim nursing facility until the situation could be stabilized. The dog was placed in foster care.

When the severity of her husband’s condition became apparent, and unable to cope herself, she had a neighbor called in and added as a signer on their bank account. Although fragile and prone to digress, she was in good spirits and able to relay at least some helpful information regarding their affairs. With both of them tentatively needing nursing care, their home needed to be sold as quickly as possible to cover ongoing expenses.

Unfortunately, in a further tragic turn of events, thieves broke into their unprotected home during the first week of their absence and proceeded, undisturbed, to ransack the entire house. Everything of value was stolen, including the better of their two cars, and all their personal files and papers. It was a heartbreaking disaster.

A Realtor who agreed to oversee the cleanup and prepare the house for listing was located, but before any agreement could be signed, the husband passed away, intestate. Without a Will, and because all personal documents had been lost in the robbery, she could do nothing until an Heirship Affidavit had been secured to prove she had the right to inherit. That done, in a perfect example of “undue influence”, the neighbor wasted no time in persuading her to make a Will in which, against the known wishes of her late husband, their entire estate was left to him. She died two weeks later.

Their home needed extensive remodeling to compete in the current market, and was eventually sold for leasing, at a hugely reduced price. See Viewpoints/Your Home; asset or liability?

At any given time, there are people all across the Dallas area, struggling to cope with situations involving an aging and/or ill family member or friend, and although every situation is unique, the cumulative need for reliable services is enormous.

The following services were required before this situation was finally resolved: 

• 911 - Ambulance
• Accountant
• Carpet Cleaners
• Charities: Appliances
• Charities: Clothing & Household
• Charities: Durable medical
• Charities: Furniture
• City of Dallas - Crisis Intervention
• Drywall
• Financial Advisor
• Foundations
• Funeral Home
• Garage Doors
• Handyman
• Home Inspection
• Landscape
• Lawyer
  
• Locksmith
• Maid Service
• Nursing Homes
• Painters
  
• Pest Control
  
• Pet Adoption
  
• Pet Foster Care
• Plumber
  
• Professional Organizer
• Realtor
• Recycle
  
• Shopping Service
• Shredding
• Tile
• Title Company