Watching your parents age can be a bittersweet affair. There are a lot of mixed emotions and often duties regarding aging parents.
It can be easy to forget to do certain benchmark duties like figuring out who the power of attorney should be. To help your aging parents who can no longer make decisions for themselves. Even if your parents are not at that place, yet, it is wise to broach this interesting conversation.
How can a power of attorney be helpful?
There can be several ways that a power of attorney can be helpful. It just boils down to what is decided with your parents. The basic duties could include decisions about medical care, paying all the bills, managing and tracking bank accounts for selling assets, and Investments.
Let’s talk about being the right kind of power of attorney.
Trustworthiness
To be a power of attorney to put another’ life in your own hands. You have to accurately be able to speak on someone else’s behalf and come through on everything. You will have a high responsibility for making decisions on behalf of others. Those decisions could negatively or positively affect the rest of their lives.
Do you live nearby?
This is a role that does require you to live nearby your elderly parent. If an emergency transpires you will need to be close, in order to represent them in those situations.
Are you ready to be unusually selfless?
When you become a power of attorney, you must remember that you are literally caring for someone who is almost or completely incapacitated. It is not a job for the faint of heart, and it will regularly put demands upon your mental, and physical well-being.
Commit to understanding the medical process
One of the biggest and most consistent duties of a power of attorney is that of healthcare and medical decisions. You have to be willing to understand prognosis, medical tests, and more. You’ll have to understand enough of what is going on to be able to ask doctors questions. Or, challenge things that might not sound like the best option.
Your articulation skills are great
One thing to consider is that you are not just playing a significant role with your loved one, but everyone else who is involved. You have to be able to communicate the desires and wishes of your parents.
When it comes to medical issues you have to be able to dialog well with professionals. Then translate all of that to every other important individual who will need to know. Aside from just being able to articulate well, you must also be ready to be questioned and explain things again even if you felt your information was thorough.
How do you feel about all of the basic things that are required for this role?
There are many things to consider if you are going to become the power of attorney for a loved one. If you’re not in a rush to make a decision, it is best to ponder the responsibility from every angle. To make sure you can fulfill the role, and be proficient in it.
