Peace Throughout the Waiting

About a month ago, I received an early morning voicemail that had me scrambling to get my kids to school early and me to the local hospital. As it turns out, my beloved 96-year-old Nana had fallen in the early hours of the night and was going to the ER with a broken hip. My mom, Nana’s youngest daughter, who lives here in Maryville, was on a trip with my dad in Texas. With Mom out of town, I was next on the “emergency call” list.

After I touched base with her retirement community and spoke with my mom, I had clear instructions on my next steps. I swung by her apartment to retrieve some medical forms and was able to be with her shortly after her ER arrival.

The medical forms included her Health Care Power of Attorney listing her desired medical treatment options and naming me as a back-up to her and my mother. The peace of mind and clarity provided by these forms made the next several hours much more peaceful as I helped my Nana answer medical questions and ultimately prep for same-day hip replacement surgery.

Before I continue, surgery was a success, and I saw Nana taking steps (with a lot of assistance) the very next day!! She continues to build strength that inspires me in a multitude of ways.

I share this story as a reminder of why we discuss more than just investments with our clients. So many decisions impact financial goals, but some decisions affect non-financial goals. A great estate plan and the supporting documents (for pre and post-death planning) can help your loved ones make decisions on your behalf while you are still living, as well as make post-death distributions easier during a time of grief.

For Nana, her Health Care Powers of Attorney made it much easier for me to help her get the proper care. She had a named back-up (me) for when her primary person (my mom) was unavailable. She also had medical care wishes noted. I did not have to make any guesses about what to say yes to or what to decline.

Don’t get me wrong, I was constantly on the phone with my mom with updates, and my sister (who also lives locally) joined me at the hospital to keep me company while we waited. My sister was also glad to know there was planning completed as she did not want to see me put in a position of making hard decisions should hard decisions be needed.

What could have been an incredibly challenging day was filled with the quietness of hospital waiting rooms, welcome conversations of surgical success, and peaceful bedside sitting. At the same time, my sister and I kept Nana company until my mom returned. And while I know my Nana loves me dearly, the smile on her face when my mom walked into the room is something I’ll cherish always.

While we focus on financial planning extensively, our expertise goes beyond mere scenarios. We are dedicated to assisting you in preparing for life’s significant moments that might not always revolve around monetary considerations.