“In 1961 I moved to Bayview-Hunters Point – it’s been my home ever since. I love it here. After retiring a few years ago, I thought I would be able to enjoy the community even more. Then, some legal issues arose.

One day I went to a seminar on living trusts, wills, and advance directives. That’s when it hit me: if something were to happen to my health, I would be completely unprepared. For example, if I was in the hospital and fell unconscious, I didn’t have a way to make sure that my daughter was in charge of my care. I learned that an advance directive would give my daughter such control.

Realizing I needed an advance directive was only the beginning: I had no idea how to get one. I couldn’t work with the folks from the seminar because the prices were outrageous; I would never be able to afford it. I was lucky, though, and remembered Open Door Legal. I had met one of their staffers, Cynthia, at a previous event, and she told me that Open Door Legal helps people with problems like mine all the time.

I was nervous at first, but that all went away once I started working with my attorney. She helped me in a timely manner, with professionalism and respect. Together, we created a full estate plan and made sure my daughter would have the power to make decisions for me when I am no longer able to.

I feel safer knowing that if I am in the hospital, my daughter has written, legal control over my care. It’s a relief to know that when I’m gone, there’s a plan in place to ensure that my family is taken care of. Now I can get back to what really matters: being a mother and a grandmother.”

Photography © Kimberly Pye