Power of Attorney Tips

What happens when your older loved one can no longer make medical or financial decisions independently? Almost every caregiver has been faced with this conundrum. And most of us have no idea what we're in for.

 

Power of attorney is one of the most common question topics caregivers have, so we decided to go to the experts to see if they could give us their best advice.

Here, in a nutshell, are some key tips to keep in mind when you're considering becoming a primary agent for a loved one's power of attorney.

Understand What Power of Attorney Is

The primary agent for a power of attorney has complete control to make decisions on behalf of the parent(s) or another adult. You don't need to be related to the person you're representing, and many times agents are not relatives.

There are two types of powers of attorney: medical, which empowers the agent to make healthcare decisions, and durable, which allows the agent to make decisions regarding finances.

Know the Lingo

In common usage, you might hear, "I'm power of attorney for so-and-so." This is slightly inaccurate. The power of attorney is a legal document (not a person). You, the person, are a primary agent for a loved one's power of attorney.

Create a Circle of Advisors

Becoming an agent for a power of attorney is more than taking on a new role in your parent's life. It means a shift in your relationship and even in how you perceive yourself. When you hold power of attorney, you will be called upon to make some tough decisions for someone other than yourself -- decisions that impact the quality (even the time span) of someone else's health and/or financial well-being. This means you will need to draw on all of your strength and wisdom.
How do you prepare for taking on a power of attorney?

• By creating a caregiver circle -- people who can advise you, be your sounding board, and point you to the resources you need in order to make the best decisions for your loved one.
• By giving yourself permission to make mistakes.
• By considering all of the ramifications and not giving in to what others may think, or being pressured by physicians or other professionals, but by carefully choosing what's best for your family member. Sometimes that even means that you must balance what your loved one said they wanted against the "new reality."
• And finally, by choosing this and all of its challenges.

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