A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document created to grant another individual the authority to act on behalf of the person granting the POA. This authority may extend to legal, financial or medical decision-making. Any decisions made under a POA are binding. POA’s vary widely in scope. They may grant authority over certain…
Research shows that 68 percent of people age 65 and over are disabled, cognitively impaired, or frail enough to require eldercare. This includes not only medical care, comfort care, and supervision, but also assistance with such day-to-day activities as preparing meals, cleaning, shopping, transportation, paying bills, scheduling and getting to doctor appointments, and even answering…
Typically, parents of children with disabilities are forced to be extremely meticulous in regard to medical planning for their children. Between meeting with several different doctors, and any medication that has been prescribed, parents have to be on top of things, knowing exactly what their child needs in any situation. However, a new study has…
People in the autumn or winter years of their lives are often advised to put together an “Advance Directive” (AD) with the help of their doctors and attorneys. This documentation relates to specifics of their medical care, wishes, and acceptable interventions, should they become incapacitated. As people become more aware of the possible consequences of…
In the New York Times article, “This Was Not the Good Death We Were Promised,” Karen Brown talks about how she cared for her father who was dying from pancreatic cancer. While she was sad that there were things she could not promise him, she felt that she could as least promise him a painless…
Even the heartiest among us can feel a little beaten down by ferocious winter weather events. Frigid weather can come on quickly, with little warning, and can surprise us with unexpected severity or duration. For the more vulnerable of us, such as the elderly or disabled, this is particularly complicated. Not only can driving or…
Owning your own home or having quite a bit of equity in it may be a great way to supplement your income as you age. If you have exhausted your savings and have little or no monthly income, and you own your own home, it may be time to consider a reverse mortgage. What Is…
There was a time when the idea of having debt on one’s personal balance sheet was heavily frowned upon. It was considered prudent to eliminate debt as quickly as possible and take on new debt only as necessary. These lessons were imparted from parents to children, who generally heeded the sage advice of the experienced…
Glaucoma has been dubbed the “sneak thief of sight.” Outside the examination room, symptoms are essentially non-existent until vision is lost. Once the disease has stricken a victim, the damage is irreversible. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), 2.7 million people in the US currently suffer from glaucoma. That number is expected to rise…
Moving an elderly parent or relative into a care facility can be one of the toughest family-related decisions a person can face. A conclusive decision on when the appropriate time has come to move an aging parent out of the home can be elusive for a variety of reasons. By understanding and acknowledging the human…