Empowering Aging Parents: A Guide to Power of Attorney
If you're considering granting someone a Power of Attorney (POA), there are 10 important things you should know.
Granting someone Power of Attorney (POA) is a significant decision, especially as our loved ones age. Here are ten crucial points to consider when navigating this process:
1. Empower Your Attorney with Care:
Power of Attorney for Personal Care (POAPC) allows you to designate someone as your attorney to make decisions on your behalf when you're unable to do so mentally. This encompasses critical areas like diet, clothing, healthcare, medical procedures, medications, safety, and residence.
2. Know the Limits:
Remember, a POAPC doesn't cover property and financial decisions. However, you can appoint the same person for both healthcare and property matters, or opt for different individuals for each role.
3. Appointment Considerations:
The appointment of the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) requires their prior written agreement.
4. Set Restrictions and Specific Guidelines:
You have the authority to impose restrictions or provide specific instructions for your attorney. For instance, you can specify your preferred living arrangements or request to stay in your own home with caregiver support instead of relocating to a nursing facility.
5. Granting Authority:
Alternatively, you can grant your attorney blanket authority to act on all your behalf.
6. Decision-Making on Treatments:
With POA, you retain the right to refuse certain treatments or procedures, such as artificial life support. Your attorney can make these decisions independently or in consultation with healthcare professionals, spiritual advisers, or family members.
7. Confirmation Protocols:
You can mandate that your attorney verifies your incapacity with a designated individual, like your doctor, before making decisions on your behalf.
8. Open Communication:
It's vital to discuss potential future medical treatments with your attorney and healthcare provider. This ensures your attorney is well-informed and can align decisions with your preferences.
9. Adherence to Instructions:
Legally, your attorney must follow your directives, even if they have differing personal beliefs, unless it's impossible to do so.
10.Best Interest Principle:
In the absence of specific instructions, your attorney must act in what they perceive to be your best interests at the time.
Granting Power of Attorney offers invaluable peace of mind, ensuring your wishes are upheld during periods of incapacity.
Together let's discover
your next chapter.
Whether your buying, selling
or your just have some questions.
