A variety of health conditions can develop with age, making it difficult for some seniors to make important legal and financial decisions. Because of this, it’s important to understand what power of attorney is and why you should help your elderly loved one take care of designating it before any health challenges arise.
It Makes Decisions Easier
Aging loved ones often experience a decrease in their mental abilities. This can be due to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or because of cognitive decline that comes with age. The main goal of power of attorney is to enable an individual to make decisions for another person who has become incapable of doing so.
Power of attorney can make it possible for you or someone else to care for your loved one when he or she is no longer able to care for him or herself. This power can extend to everything from making the decision to resuscitate your loved one to deciding on his or her at-home care. Power of attorney allows for important decisions to be made without requiring long legal battles.
Helping your loved one create a power of attorney isn’t the only potentially overwhelming responsibility you may have to face. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide home care service. Turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
A Lack of Power of Attorney Can Be Costly
Making decisions without power of attorney can be a costly and arduous battle. This is especially true when multiple people are trying to make the best decisions for your loved one. Power of attorney can minimize the amount of required legal action, which in turn can save your loved one and your family on legal fees.
Fighting among Family Members Can Be Prevented
The worst thing that can result from a lack of power of attorney is infighting among relatives. Making decisions about a senior’s finances, medical care, and lifestyle changes can tear families apart. However, power of attorney can prevent this by allowing you or another person to be in control of the decision-making while working with your loved one to make the choices he or she wants.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care Opelika, AL, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
It May Be Needed to Make Important Medical Decisions
Medical decisions tend to require power of attorney. While this makes sense for life-saving procedures like life support, it can also extend to procedures that may affect a loved one’s quality of life. Having power of attorney can make things such as bladder procedures, preventative care, and hiring hourly or live-in care possible if your loved one becomes unable to make his or her own decisions. Though it can be overwhelming to think about making sure your loved one’s needs are met, making those decisions early on can ensure the transition is easier.
Creating a power of attorney for an aging adult can be a challenging task, especially if you have other important duties to tend to. Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Opelika respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts. To create a customized in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (334) 744-7100.