WHO WILL CARE FOR MY LOVED ONE WHEN I AM GONE?

LIFETIME ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Planned Lifetime Assistance of New Jersey (PLAN/NJ) is a unique, not-for-profit agency that provides practical solutions, thus lessening the fear and anxiety families experience when planning for the future.

We help deliver the legal, financial, and independent living supports people need and deserve.

Our services ensure that people with disabilities are safe, secure, and thriving, now and in the future.

Dear Ellen,

PLAN/NJ has made a great contribution to my family’s peace of mind and we just want to encourage everyone to support the amazing difference you make in the lives of your clients. I wholly support your mission “to care for loved ones when those who loved them are gone.”

My brother Matthew is 30 years old, two years my senior. While we are all very proud of his accomplishments to date, it has taken herculean efforts from our whole family, with my Mom leading the way, to help Matt lead a happy, safe, and fulfilling life. Matt’s non-verbal autism is severe and is compounded by OCD. He also has a life-threatening seizure disorder, so he lives in a group home with 24-hour staffing and will need a lifetime of full-time care.

As Matt’s only sibling, I was really glad when my family opted to create a LifePLAN for him with PLAN/NJ. This document is a sort of road map for Matt’s long-term care. It is a record of his medical history, his needs, his family, what he likes and does not. (Hint- no fish on his plate, thanks! More ribs, please!) Even more than most of us, he gets upset when he cannot make himself understood, and this plan will help his current and future advocates understand what he is all about.

If my parents were no longer here, I would likely have a difficult time juggling my own career and family responsibilities while trying to oversee Matt’s activities in his New Jersey group home and making sure all the necessary regulatory steps are taken to maintain his eligibility for services. Heck, even my Dad, a retired financial executive, had trouble following the SSI requirements—we misreported something accidentally and there were financial repercussions for Matt. Fortunately, it was not a ton of money, but this was a wake-up call that we needed more help. Special Needs Trust administration is complex, and I was nervous about how well I would be able to cope with all the nuances. Having a LifePLAN in place will make it easier for me coordinate with Matt and his care team across state lines, and allow both of us to lead rich, meaningful lives.

PLAN/NJ has provided a great solution to my concerns. My parents worked with their lawyers to arrange their estate planning such that I will be able to use PLAN/NJ as a co-guardian as necessary when my Mom and Dad are deceased. PLAN/NJ will also manage a trust in his name that will come to exist on their passing. Although banks have trust management services, PLAN/NJ has a leg up when it comes to managing trusts for people with disabilities, because they understand all the rules surrounding how that money gets used and reported. And, just as importantly, I will continue to control decisions about Matt’s living arrangements, medical care, and other personal matters.

Keep up the great work! New Jersey families like mine need you!

Sincerely,
Kitty Sanders (daughter of Bruce and Mary Dalziel)