The Envelope Under the Fruit Bowl

When Karen stopped by her father’s house, nothing seemed especially unusual.

The lawn was cut. The kitchen was clean. Her father, Richard, was sitting at the table working on a crossword puzzle, just as he had done for years.

Then Karen moved the fruit bowl.

Underneath it was an unopened electric bill marked “Final Notice.”

Richard was embarrassed. He insisted that it was only an oversight. But as Karen helped him sort through the mail, they found a medical bill that had been paid twice, several unopened bank statements and a property tax document he had placed aside and forgotten.

Richard was still capable of making his own financial decisions. The problem was that the paperwork had become harder to manage.

When a Small Problem Becomes a Pattern

Anyone can overlook a bill or misplace a document. The concern is when it begins happening regularly.

For many older adults, household finances have become more complicated. Bills may arrive through the mail, email or online accounts. Passwords must be remembered. Medical statements need to be reviewed. Automatic payments may come from several different accounts.

Changes in eyesight, memory, energy or dexterity can make these tasks more frustrating than they once were.

In other families, one spouse always managed the household finances. When that person becomes ill or passes away, the surviving spouse may suddenly be responsible for an unfamiliar system.

Help Without Taking Over

Karen did not want to take control of her father’s finances. Richard did not want her to.

What they needed was a system.

Bookkeeping support can be tailored to the individual. One person may need help organizing mail and creating a filing system. Another may benefit from regular bill payment, account reconciliation, budgeting or monthly financial reports.

The goal is not to remove the older adult from the process. It is to make the process easier to manage.

Landis at Home’s Bookkeeping Concierge Service can assist with bill payment, bank account management, budgeting, paperwork organization, financial reporting and tax documentation. Services can be adjusted based on what the client and family need.

For Richard, getting help did not mean losing his independence. It meant no longer worrying that an important envelope was hidden somewhere in the kitchen.

To learn more about bookkeeping services for older adults in Lancaster County, contact Landis at Home at 717-509-5800.