Mike is 59 years old.  He is happily married with two grown up but unmarried sons.  Mike is physically fit and well, he even plays football once a week and leads an active social life.  He is looking forward to a long, happy and uneventful retirement with his wife Sally but is conscious that an unexpected accident or tragic disease could radically alter his plans.  He has things to say to his sons, advice, guidance and words of wisdom, but voicing them now, without immediate cause would be embarrassing for both sides and perhaps a little maudlin.  He also wants to thank Sally for her years of devotion and for her support during the hard times.  But he has never been one for displays of emotion.  So he uses SilverChord to record messages to his children.  For Sally he includes

Who joins SilverChord?

details of life insurance plans and key information about his will and certain business matters that will help her adjust.  Mike wasn't expecting to die, but one morning, he was playing his usual Sunday football with his mates when he suffered a massive stroke and passed away before he hit the ground.  For his family and community it was a tragedy, but they had the comfort of knowing that they had heard the really important things he had to say.

Meet Mike

Meet Lisa

Lisa is a busy executive working for a big City professional firm.  Lisa is in her mid forties, attractive and enjoying life to the full.  But she worries about her parents, Alice and Jack who still live in a small cottage in the country.  Long retired, they are enjoying their retirement, but suffering from increasing poor health.  Discussing things like wills and life insurance seems heartless and uncaring, so Lisa has purchased a SilverChord subscription for her parents.  Now without pressure they can leave instructions

about funeral arrangements, the location of wills and care for the surviving partner.  Lisa, Alice and Jack now feel happy that when the time comes everyone will know what they have to do and have avoided talking about painful subjects.

Meet Jane and Peter

Ronnie is an old soldier and ran a successful business before he retired.  His wife died years ago and he now lives in sheltered housing.  He rarely sees his children as they live abroad.  He has resolved to leave his estate partially to his four grandchildren and to donate a substantial sum to the local hospital.  He has recorded messages on SilverChord for his grandchildren to advise them on how he would like them to spend their inheritance and messages for the trustees of the hospital in which he describes what he wants them to do with his bequest.  Ronnie is happy that when he finally goes, he will have left something far more meaningful than just a will and a collection of letters.

 

Jane and Peter will be celebrating their Golden wedding in just a few months.  They have led a fulfilling life and have raised a large family and have three children, seven grandchildren and more than twenty nephews and nieces, some of whom are involved in the family business. Life has been good to them and they have built up a considerable estate and are afraid that after they die, there will be family squabbles about inheritance.  To help their eldest son Andrew, they have recorded messages on SilverChord to make their wishes about the division of the estate and the direction of the business clear.  They have also left a private message for each of their children explaining their wishes in the event of incapacity in extreme old age and their plans for their funerals.  They know that when the time comes, the family could fall apart and they want to do everything they can to make it easier for their executors and children.

Meet Brad, Kylie and Roz

The doctor has just confirmed Brad and Roz?s worst fears.  The lump is breast cancer and it is spreading.  There is a very good chance of a complete recovery but Roz and Brad have some difficult times ahead.  Roz has a strong, positive outlook and is determined to fight the cancer but she also knows that there is a chance that she may not see Kylie?s wedding day.  She has therefore recorded some thoughts for Brad to pass on to their daughter as she reaches milestones in her life.  It was hard, but Roz and Brad want Kylie to have positive memories about the good times they shared and will share together.

Meet Ronnie

This is probably her last birthday with her grandchildren. Her heart condition has worsened and the doctors are not hopeful.  While she is still able, she has recorded a birthday greeting for each of the children and a special family message to be played at her funeral.  Victoria has led a good life and wants her children to remember the special days they shared together and to remind them of a special treat that she has left behind for them.

Meet Victoria