A new workshop called “Suddenly Solo? What Next?” is designed to help individuals answer the question, “What would you do if you found yourself in charge of finances because your spouse suddenly passed away or became disabled?” This workshop is the collaboration of several local agencies and individuals whose desire is to help individuals or couples with the process of household finances, legal documents, and healthcare planning, either following the death or disability of a spouse or as part of the overall planning process. The workshop is free of charge and open to the public and will be held Wednesday, November 15, 3-5 p.m. at Brookletts Place, Talbot County Senior Center, 400 Brookletts Avenue in Easton.
Photo: The Suddenly Solo planning committee includes (l-r) Talbot Hospice Director of Marketing & Communications Caron James, Talbot County Register of Wills Patti Campen, Brookletts Place, Talbot County Senior Center Program Director Teresa Greene and Executive Director Childlene Brooks, Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Sandy Brown and local estate planning attorney Sharon Ritter Beall. Not pictured, Glenn Fleureton of Fleureton Financial Solutions.
The idea came from local attorney Sharon J. Ritter-Beall whose work assisting clients with their estate planning led her to understand the need for these types of services in Talbot County. “In many families, for example, the husband handles all the finances,” said Ritter-Beall. “If the husband dies suddenly or becomes disabled, the wife is often at a loss as to what assets there are and how to pay bills. We want to help individuals who may currently be in this situation, but we also want to be proactive and help individuals and couples prepare in advance so they don’t end up being at a loss.”
Agencies and individuals involved with planning the service include Childlene Brooks and Teresa Greene of Brookletts Place, Talbot County Senior Center, Sandy Brown of Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Patty Campen of Talbot County Register of Wills, Glenn Fleureton of Fleureton Financial Solutions, and Caron James of Talbot Hospice. Other agencies participating in the workshop include the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration, the Talbot County Department of Social Services, and the Maryland State Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
Participants at the workshop will be able to go from station to station to get help with understanding finances, Medicare, long-term care, legal documents, the state health insurance program, and more.
To register for the workshop, call Brookletts Place Talbot County Senior Center at 410-822-2869 or email brookletts@uppershoreaging.org.
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