I have just become aware of the death of the husband of a friend. While this is very sad, he was 85 and had been ill for sometime. He died at home and no extraordinary measures were taken. The problem left behind is that his wife, my friend, has challenges that make it very hard for her to handle the day to day responsibilities to keep the bills paid and the house maintained. She is 60 and is a person with Asberger’s syndrome which is often described as a high function type of autism.
Fortunately, there is a will and she has two step-sons who will be able to assist her and possibly become conservators for her and the estate. I am aware of another situation where this was not the case and the lack of a will complicated matters so that nothing was settled for nearly a year. This wait occurred while the intellectually challenged son of the deceased struggled regarding his own care and living arrangements. In that case, the nephew of the challenged person was able to step in to help.
If you are aware of a person with intellectual challenges, the challenges presented by autism spectrum disorder or physical challenges due to mobility issues and are close enough to pose the questions, be nosy. Ask if arrangements have been made. Offer to help find the proper attorney. If this person is in your family, take the time to be part of the solution.
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