What do you wish that your parents has put in place when they were still fit and healthy?

Definitely to know where the will is, who are the executors, which solicitors.

Any funeral plan in place? Which funeral company.
POA before loss of capacity.
Downsize plus adaptations in order to stay as independent as possible for longer. Bonus here is that a move kind of forces a declutter whilst you can.
A folder, easily accessible with bank, benefit, house details. Passwords if possible.
Photo's to be uploaded and stored.

Swedish death cleaning ….

don’t make your kids responsible for an unsorted lifetime of your memories / family archive. Pare it down. Label the bloody photos 😂

I have enduring financial PoA for both parents (divorced). My mum is going to sort another for her care needs (a different PoA is needed and it stops for instance not being able to remove them from care and bring them to your home should you wish to- in lockdown this caught a lot of people out). I have copies of her will and also a list of where all her paperwork is kept or held.
She is also in an assisted care flat - not sheltered housing. Care is on site. She doesn't need it yet but can add it to her package as and when she needs it.
Flat all on one level, wet room, disabled friendly. She has dealt with all the downsizing. We took what we wanted and she got rid of the rest. I plan to do this myself once I get older. Most people move to assisted care flats about 5 years too late.... they struggle on in huge houses which don't have appropriate facilities. That's the biggest thing you can do for your kids I know that if she fell for instance she would be missed by the staff/ residents and found quickly.

Yes to statement of wishes re funeral! (I've done one too...)

My sister and I are mums executors but it won't be complicated. She has some savings and her belongings/furniture. That's it.

Mum has online banking and only 2 accounts.

Simplifying bank accounts/investments/pensions etc is so helpful.

Allowing help.

Dhs family won’t move from large house and large garden to a more suitable place. Fine. But they also won’t allow a gardener in, or decorators or cleaner as they think they can do themselves still. But can’t as it’s all too much.
They have plenty of money to have them.

POA. I had one for my late DM and DH and I have done one for ourselves as we have both seen how important they are and need to be in place before you actually want to act on them,

Information on accounts and investments in one place so all the paperwork can be accessed and up to date.

Look at what might need to be adapted in old age. I had to move my DM downstairs for her to stay in her home. Also make sure wills and wishes are known in advance. Despite being an executor for my DM I also knew her wishes so yes she wanted me to fund a wake/party and be buried in a certain location.

We are starting this with my Mum. She’s still fairly switched on but panics over the slightest thing which then causes her to get confused. She always kept a spreadsheet of savings etc but over Covid got out of the habit and now has no idea.

We applied for PoA in Feb and are still waiting - several of her friends have had similar issues. We are now trying to get an up to date list of bank accounts/savings - sort code, acc number, online access etc. as well as confirm pension income etc.

We think there is a will but not sure where it is or who the executors are (was DF, DB and I but that was 30 years ago). She has verbally expressed funeral wishes and I’d like her to write it down and put it with the will. (My dad did this and it was a great help).

5 years ago none of this would have been an issue as Mum was on it! I think the problem is that ‘old age’ creeps up on you and by the time you realise you’re not coping, it’s too late for the good intentions. That’s my experience anyway.

1. Move to suitable accommodation whilst you still can
2. Have things like wet rooms put in/take bath out/ramps in garden, handrails etc
3. POAs
4. Start de cluttering!
5. Read the gentle art of Swedish death cleaning

PS I'm executor for a friend's parent. I have details of their bank account numbers

Getting all paperwork in order definitely.

But also moving to single-level, much smaller accommodation, with a easy to manage garden.

Walk in shower and comfortable height toilet.

Thankfully we did POA for both parents before Mum developed dementia.
She's no longer with us. I do Dad's finances, I have simplified the number of accounts he has and I have POA registered. Dad has capacity but Mum did anything to do with money.