Paperwork in Place Makes Caregiving Simpler
OK Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters offers a chapter called: Paperwork and Practicalities. It gives a straightforward view of the official documents a caregiver needs in order to pay a loved one’s bills, talk with doctors and other medical providers, get information from insurance companies and chase down any billing discrepancies (which sometimes happens — I’m sure you’ve seen it) that need to be corrected. This paperwork (Power of Attorney [POA], Medical Power of Attorney or ‘Health Care Agent,’ and Living Will) should all be in place before there comes a time the person is no longer able to make well-founded decisions for him or herself. Obtaining it can sometimes be a complicated and fraught discussion with a parent, grandparent or even a spouse, depending on the relationship, obviously, but it can also be one that offers a chance to get to know a loved one in a new way, a way to cement relationships and quell fears. In any case, it’s a crucial discussion to have before things begin to slide irreparably.
For those who are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the ‘paperwork’ we recommend, Today’s Caregiver has a longer explanation of what powers each individual document affords and the potential limits of each. read more at caregiver.com
OK Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters by Sue Collins, RN and Nancy Taylor Robson is the winner of the 2016 Friendly Caregiver Award from Today’s Caregiver magazine. It is purposely succinct, experience-based and story-filled for those in the throes of caregiving. Available in paperback from https://www.headtowindpublishing.com/bookstore
Available in both paperback and ebook from amazon.
As a certified financial planner, (CFP®), I have found that the “life” planning aspect of my job is often more important than “financial” planning…It is critical that I have resources I can provide or to which I can direct clients. OK Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters is a welcome addition to that toolbox. It’s content rich, direct yet gentle. It is now in our practice’s library. Bruce Robson, Managing Partner and CFP® CFS Comprehensive Financial Solutions.