Announcing – Miller Mediation and Solution will be formally known as Our Family Encounter TM as of August 1, 2020.
Our Family Encounter TM is 100% remote as we connect with families and solo seniors. To help protect seniors and their loved ones, we are unable to meet in person which made this a natural move. Check out the new logo courtesy of Carrie Drephal of JCD Promotions! Look out for the updated website. Several new changes are in store (and for anyone looking to cross promote your business – jump to the end of this newsletter).
Celebrating our 2nd year in business!
When I look back at how I started out in business and then the growth and changes my business has needed to change over the past two years – WOW! I could not have done this without the support, prayers, guidance, and advice. “You Got This!” to “Can I introduce you to someone?” to “Here’s a website or a class you can take.” I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who build each other up, lend a hand or just meet with me to teach me what they do and how I might be able to help them.
I go back to the day I went to the wrong meeting. One cold February morning, I walked into the Mass for the World Day of the Sick and it changed the trajectory of my business. That day, I met one of my mentors, Cy Laurent, who challenged me: remember this one word… Encounter. Encountering someone allows us to walk on our life journey with someone else. He challenged me to reach out to those who are the most vulnerable. Over the past year, I’ve chosen to walk with those who are aging alone. Solo Seniors may not have family members to look out for them and families who live far away from each other.
Who knew a year later we would be dealing with the COVID virus and Seniors needed to shelter in our homes? The need to connect with each other is even more important now that before! Last night I heard: we have lost more people to suicide in the past six months than to COVID! Calls into the Suicide Hotlines has gone up 600%. To offset this, we need to be talking with each other and connecting to our neighbors, families, and friends. Please help me provide the support we need to give to others.
Topic of the month:
Funeral planning
This is a very hard topic to cover – yet it is the one thing EVERYONE of us needs to be prepared for. If we do not do it, we leave it to someone else to do it. Family and friends want to remember you and the impact you had on their lives – not have to make decisions on how bury you. Lack of planning causes many family disagreements and broken relationships. Families have told me so many times: having a plan in place in advance made such a big difference to them. A well-organized “exit-plan” allows you to share your wishes, highlight your legacy and it literally teaches your family how to die by showing how to host an honorable and dignified way to handle your passing.
How much does it cost to be buried? This is not a fee that will be covered by the government or Medicare. Financial and wealth advisors shared they earmark money for funeral expenses but will not offer this in your financial plan. Looking for an insurance program that covers funeral costs? Usually you are referred to funeral homes who create a plan for you. The best thing you can do is do some research first.
Here is an article and website you might find interesting and helpful:
https://qz.com/1880934/the-funeral-industry-continues-to-adapt-to-covid-19/
One of my takeaways, each state and community can have various rates for cremation or burial. For example, being cremated in Mesa, Arizona costs $639 and a funeral is $2265. In the Twin Cities, a cremation costs as low as $750 and funeral costs $2270 (including a casket). Rates can be different from one funeral home to another. There are many other costs and considerations depending on your faith beliefs and traditions.
It is interesting to find out there are options to rent a casket or to be buried in a special cardboard box. On other hand, caskets alone can cost upwards of $20,000 or more.
Gravestone markers can cost as little as $95 and go into the thousands of dollars.
Funerals should not be about the cost; it should be about your memory. Help your family and loved ones by making these decisions for them.
Write down your Plan!
In the past month, I have experienced quite a bit of downtime due to changes in my marketing strategy, access to the internet and realigning my business goals.
One lesson I want to share: write your contacts information down! In the event you do not have access to the internet or a computer, your family members must have your information and contacts available to carry out your wishes. The information can be in a computer file and printed if you do not want to have it handwritten. Husbands and wives need to both have a plan written down for each of them. Anyone over the age of 18 needs to have their wishes written down. Store your details in a safe place. Make sure your emergency contact has it. If you do not want to share that information with them, Our Family Encounter will securely store your information for you and your emergency contact.
New initiatives
I am working on an initiative to help people load videoconferencing tools to their cellphones. This is a life and death solution – and something we must take care of in the next couple of months!
Telemedicine is loosely defined as providing medical service over the telecom network. It can be by text, phone, or email. Many seniors are willing to have tools on their desktops, but how many accidents happen while sitting at your desk? Loading an app on the phone is very simple for our youth, but it is debilitating for seniors.
If anyone is interested in helping me bring awareness to this issue, please contact me. I am working with Senior Linkage Line https://www.seniorlinkageline.com/ to come up with a way for Seniors to get the video conference app loaded to their phones while socially distancing. We are looking for businesses, organizations or churches who are open to having a table set up outside to have someone load the video conference app of their choice to their phones while the user waits.
This is a safety issue, addresses isolation and will provide family members peace of mind in the situation that their family members have support during clinic visits or hospital stays.
Call out to Business partners
On my new website, I am looking for business partners who are interested in cross promoting their businesses to my customers.
The clients who have been reaching out to me are usually in their 40’s to 60’s. Our Family Encounter clients are looking for trusted advisors who can guide them on their life decisions. I would personally vouch for each of you as a trusted resource.
If interested, here are the options and rates:
- Partner Plan: Company name, website link, email and phone number – No Cost
- Supporter Plan: Logo, company name, your name and title, website, email, and phone number – $20/year
- Steward Plan: Vimeo or YouTube video, logo, company name, your name and title, email, phone number and a 200-word description of the services you provide – $50/year
Contact me to have you included in my website. I would also love to connect with you as well if you are open to cross promoting my business on your website.