Passwords

It’s here. Some call it the “silver tsunami” while others reference it as “the greying of America”. Nearly half of the “sandwich“ generation have a parent over age 65 and are raising young children or supporting grown children.

Alarmingly, thousands of critically important end-of-life and after death decisions are currently being made without the benefit of advanced planning. While “hope” is not a plan, planning realizes hope.

Let’s face it. We live in a sophisticated, technologically driven world whether we like it or not.  Like most things in life, that happens to be both good and bad news.

But with technology comes passwords, usernames,  and PIN numbers. Not only are we instructed to keep these in a “safe” place, we are challenged with the task, on a daily and sometimes hourly basis, of remembering what password goes with what.

He's making a list, checking it twice...going to find out who's naughty and nice....Are you humming the tune in your head now? 

'Tis the season of holiday shopping and planning for the family. 'Tis also the season for many, many lists. 

Unless you live under a rock, you most likely have read the front page news about a 29 year old computer technician named Edward Snowden, a whistleblower of epic proportions. 

The hot topic? Cybersecurity, leaks, and intelligence secrets.  People watching people; people getting your data; people listening in on your conversations- whether you like it or not.

AARP picked up an amazing "TED talk" about planning for the end of life and immediately posted it on their website.

There are 4 million members of the NRA.

There are 240 million guns in the United States of America alone.

It is not my intention to comment as to whether or not citizens have the right to bear arms, but it is my intention to have you think about what happens to your weapons, guns, or your gun collection, when you die.

Here is a predicament that I did not have to face when my Mom died in 2006.  She never had Facebook or Twitter.

And even if Mom was alive today, I doubt very much she would have Facebook or Twitter as she was not comfortable with computers, or even cell phones! 

So what exactly happens to someones Facebook account, or Twitter, or any other on-line social media networking tool that is so prevalent in our society when they die?

Ponder these questions:

I have 3 safe stories to share with you.

Happily, my Mom was not in any way, shape, or form interested in or engaged in anything on the internet.  In fact, attempting to teach her to use a cell phone was futile. We tried. We even had the grandkids attempt to teach her. She had no interest in technology and actually frowned upon the growing scene of  the young and old with cell phones glued to their ears, speaking way too loudly, and ignoring others while walking out in front of cars oblivious to the dangers.

Here are 7 tasks to deal with ASAP whether or not your loved one's death was sudden or expected.

1. 911

Contacting the emergency medical team is probably the first number you will dial. Someone died. And you need help. Then it is time to say goodbye and have your loved one transported to the local hospital or funeral home. Someone has to officially declare the death.