Life – a user's manual Part II - Boksidan

Before geting old
I have been assigned by the society to help elderly people with things that they are no longer able to take
care of themselves. Often because the person misses simple things, like paying bills, and therefore are in the
danger of being evicted from their homes. Problems that had never occurred if they just took these simple
steps:
1. All running costs (usually: rent or equivalent, electricity, garbage collection, water, insurance, TV license,
telephone, transportation, care fees, union memberships) must be paid by direct debit.
2. Other bills should be paid by using any of the services which can be operated from home, either online
payment or payment services with envelopes.
3. In case there are more than, say, 30 000 SEK on the bank account should, like, 30 000 SEK remain on the
salary account that pension payments and direct debits is linked to (personal account, checking account,
etc.). Everything over that amount should be put into a savings account with interest. This because the
next action should be to arrange so that a reliable person dispose the salary account.
4. Obtain authorization for someone to pick up any medications at a pharmacy (forms are available on
these). In addition, it makes sense to also get an account at the pharmacy and link this with direct debit to
the salary account.
Note! The risk is higher to regret what you haven’t done, than what you have done.
Remember also that dementia can come slowly without you noticing it and therefore it is good to in time,
take the following steps:
1. Throw away what you do not want others to find when you are dead.
2. If you are not satisfied with the inheritance distribution prescribed by law: write a will and make sure that
it is stored so that it is followed in succession after you. There is unfortunately no official archive for
wills, so one have to rely on friends, children, law firms or funeral homes.
3. Discuss with your partner, your children and/or your friends about how you want it in the event that you
need physical or mental care. Many probably say, when they are absolutely clear in their head, that they
do not want to be a problem for their loved ones. But once they are very ill they oppose every kind of
change. My experience is that everyone who has been very care-intensive, which I helped to move to
sheltered housing, have felt much better after the move. Alternatively, you can move to a place, as a
senior housing/sheltered housing already now, where it is possible to conduct care under reasonable
circumstances when necessary. And where you , above all, both can go outdoors and into the shower,
even if you have difficulty walking. If one move in time one have significantly greater opportunities to
influence the housing compared to if moveing too late.
4. Society has a lot of resources designed to help you maintain a good quality of life even if your hearing
impaired, you are unstable or have other physical problems. Do not hesitate to contact such as the district
nurses, or an occupational therapist at the health center (toilet elevations, etc. are free of charge if they are
considered to be needed), or the person in the municipality dealing with the transportation service for
handicapped people and/or offer advice on hearing aids.
5. It seems to be common that elderly people is gloomy, there's nothing to be ashamed of and in addition it
can to some extent be cured with medication. Do not hesitate to contact the health center before the
symptoms become severe. If melancholy is the result of loneliness, it may also to some extent remedied
by the activities that the municipality do to employ and/or entertain old people.
6. If it matters to you how the funeral takes place, mthe funeral agencies are happy to discuss this and they
can express your wishes in writing, which you should keep so that it is found when you're dead and
conveniently also display it for your loved ones.
7. Organize your photo album and write down the name and other information you want to remember, if you
get denied, it may be too late and your dependents may not recognize the old pictures. It can be valuable
to you, your family, and those who will help you if you become demented.
8. Write down how you want it with food, drink, clothing and so on, you could end up in a situation where
you can no longer remember, or cant express your wishes.
9. Do what you want done while you can, soon it may be too late!
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