At almost 94, my mom is a vibrant, interesting, well-prepared lady. Her whole life, she has been proactive–always thinking ahead and heading off problems at the pass. Although she has been living independently in her own home, she recently made the decision to move into a senior community to help address some physical issues that have been slowly creeping up. She chose not to wait for a crisis, but instead made the move while she still had control over the circumstances.
While I was helping her prepare for the transition, she proudly pulled out her “Legacy Binder.” I consider it a true gift of love for our family. Mom took the time to gather and record everything we would need to know if she were ever unable to handle things on her own. As much as it may help in the future, it’s already proven to be a big help right now. The binder is like a personal guidebook for her life. It holds key information that would be essential in case of a health event or other emergency.
A Legacy Binder is essentially a place to store important information about your life. If something unexpected happens to you, the binder provides your loved ones with details they need to handle your personal affairs. Rather than scrambling, digging through drawers and filing cabinets, everything they need is at their fingertips. It takes time to assemble your “life story,” but this organizational effort brings great peace of mind to both you and your loved ones.
Whether you use a 3-ring binder, a folder with dividers, or another system, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is having accurate and up-to-date information. Some of the basics you might want to include are personal information, medical information, financial information, and insurance and legal documents. My mom included details of her accounts for utilities, insurance, bank accounts, deeds, etc., so it was all right there when she needed to close accounts or notify companies of her change of address. What a time-saver!
One of my favorite features to include is something personal. You might write a letter to your loved ones, sharing how much they mean to you. You could even add memories about our beautiful town of Tualatin—perhaps a special moment you shared with your family here.
There’s no need to start from scratch. Free checklists are available online to guide you. Try searching “Legacy Binder Checklist” for ideas on what to include. Lists will include categories such as emergency contacts, bank accounts, copies of life insurance policies, monthly bills and how they’re paid, and a list of medications and allergies.
Once your binder is complete, include a “Last Updated” date. Plan to revisit it occasionally to keep everything current. Store it somewhere very safe, and be sure that a trusted family member knows where to find it. Mom chose to keep hers under lock and key.
We live in such a warm and caring community here in Tualatin. Creating a Legacy Binder is one more way to show love to the people who matter most. Are you ready to get started?
