Information vital to seniors and their families will be presented by experts in estate planning on Wednesday, May 14th at 2 pm and at 6:30 pm at Solimine Funeral Home, in their1896 historic building at 67 Ocean Street (Rt. 1A). The seminar will feature speakers Stephen Smith of the Stephen Smith Law Firm in Lynn and Michael W. Phelps, Funeral Director.

     Anyone interested in learning about these essential estate planning concerns is invited to attend this seminar. To register for this free event, phone 781-595-1492. All attendees will receive a complimentary Planning Guide and refreshments will be served.

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Residents celebrating their birthdays at the "85 Years & Older" Party!

     Wall Towers residents in Lynn and the families of the honorees were invited to a joint birthday party on March 18th for all those celebrating their 85th (or more) birthday. Several local organizations, including PACE/SCO of the Elder Service Plan of the North Shore and Solimine Funeral Homes volunteered and contributed to the event. Kim Anderson Hogan, Director of Community Outreach, said, "It was a fun event. Everyone enjoyed the plentiful Chinese food buffet honoring the residents of Wall Towers who achieved this momentous milestone. 

     Every day, someone somewhere in Massachusetts needs to find essential community services, an after school program, a food bank, or where to secure care for an aging parent. Many face these challenges, but don't always know where to turn for help.   

     Calling 2-1-1 is confidential and it frees the 9-1-1 system for life and death emergency situations. The Mass 2-1-1 program is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week and is an easy way to find resources or to volunteer to help in your community. Mass 2-1-1 responds immediately during a crisis, fielding calls to services most appropriate for the caller's needs.  

     If for some reason, you cannot access Mass 2-1-1 through your phone system, you can call, toll-free, 1-877-211-MASS (6277). Hearing impaired can call 508-370-4890. To learn more, visit the Mass 2-1-1 website.   

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"Pre-Planning: Do you have to Pre-Pay when you Pre-Plan?"

     Pre-planning is the opportunity to sit with a funeral director and ask lots of questions, find out about the services that are available to you, understand options that are available with either cremation or burial, and begin the process of making decisions about the type of funeral service that is most in accord with your values.    

     People pre-plan for a variety of reasons. Certainly, funeral planning isn't something people want to think about every day. But, if you put it off, family members may not be prepared, either emotionally or financially, to make the many decisions that must be made.  

     During the pre-planning conference, the funeral director will record your wishes and desires so that this information is readily available for your family when it is needed. This helps to ensure that your wishes will be carried out; and that loved ones are relieved of having to make difficult decisions about what you would have wanted. Doing this provides you - and them - with a great deal of peace of mind. As part of the arrangement process, the funeral director will help you to think about how best to create a personalized memorial that will hold special meaning to those in attendance.

      Pre-arranging allows you to compare services, facilities and prices for different types of funerals, and to choose what is best for you and your family. There are so many options available today, and a funeral director can help you select the service options that will be best suit your budget and needs.  

     Pre-planning is often a part of general estate planning, and enables you to set aside appropriate funds in a vehicle that is considered an exempt asset when qualifying for Medicaid.   You will also have the opportunity to determine pricing, and to decide whether pre-paying for your arrangements is appropriate for you.

There are a number of reasons why people decide to pre-pay for funerals and we'll be happy to discuss them with you, if you'd like. One certain benefit of pre-planning is that you can get cost estimates for the funeral you are considering and make any necessary adjustments during a time when you are thinking rationally and not overwhelmed with emotion.  

     Most importantly, prearranging provides you with genuine peace of mind and a sense of freedom, knowing that you have made informed-decisions and that everything is taken care of.

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