Help Seniors: Share the Importance of Valid ID
“My mom needs to have a power of attorney and advanced healthcare directive notarized, so I can help her pay her bills and make healthcare decisions for her. She hasn’t driven in years, so her driver’s license is expired.” stated the adult child of a senior citizen. I hear this statement occasionally.
As a California notary public, I am unable to use expired driver’s licenses, expired passports, social security cards, credit cards, Medicare cards, etc. to notarize documents. There are other forms of current government issued photo identifications available (senior citizen, passport and military (with photo, physical description, signature, number, expiration or issue date and a physical description).
Documents cannot be notarized without valid government issued photo identification. Many times elderly people need documents notarized in a crisis situation. Adding more stress to the crisis is not being able to have their documents notarized because they do not have a current state identification card, driver’s license, passport or military card.
With identity theft on the rise, more and more medical facilities, financial institutions, businesses and government agencies require a current government issued photo identification.
Here are details how to obtain apply for or renew a senior citizen identification card from the California Department of Motor Vehicles website. Scroll to the “How to apply for or renew an identification (ID) card” section which is about two thirds of the way down the page.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#idcard
When I meet with a senior citizen who mentions they will discontinue driving soon or will let their driver’s license expire, I inform about the state senior citizen identification card. It is issued by the DMV and valid for 10 years. It looks just like the driver’s license, but states “Senior Citizen Identification Card”. The process of changing from a current driver’s license to a senior citizen identification card is probably easier since all their information is current with the DMV, than if their driver’s license is expired. They are happy to learn the helpfu information.
I have blogged about this matter before, but I continue to run into this “lack of identification” challenge. Help spread the word to seniors you know. They will be glad you shared it with them.
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