Legal & Estate Planning Category

Agreeing to accept the responsibility of medical power of attorney for an aging parent, family member or friend is a serious legal responsibility. Adult children and family caregivers accept the responsibility of a legal agent with little or no knowledge of what happens when a loved one needs c...

Can guardianship be shared among family members? This is a question that family caregivers ask me. My response is that “it depends.” The term for shared guardianship is “co-guardian.” Sharing guardianship among family members can work well or sharing guardianship can be a family’s wor...

Appointing a Power of Attorney Appointing a power of attorney establishes a fiduciary relationship between the principal and the agent or attorney in fact. This means that the relationship is based on confidence and trust. The responsibility of the power of attorney is to act in the best inter...

Who will make decisions about your care if you are unable? ...

While paying family to caregiver may seem like an obvious solution, this choice does not always ensure a loved one receives appropriate or beneficial care. ...

Many attorneys become involved with families when health care issues arise, especially memory loss. I see many cases where a caregiving situation running smoothly for years suddenly turns into a nightmare. Perhaps the individual requiring care becomes combative or incontinence becomes an overwh...

Washington will become the first state to clamped down the unregulated, explosive growth of elder-care referral businesses that rake in profits, sometimes deceptively, by promising to help families find long-term care for the aged. Dozens of Washington companies offer to guide families throu...

Interview With Dr. Benjamin Hufbauer, Assistant Professor, University of Louisville(podcast 8:28 playing time)Click the Play button below to listen:    ...

 My niece recently posted questionable information on the internet that appeared on my Facebook page because we were friends; after reading the content I immediately and secretly “un-friended” her.  I did not want the information in her post to appear on my page with readers assuming I ap...

 Health risks exist for aging adults who have rigid minds. Those who refuse to consider recommendations by physicians and who are viewed as "difficult patients" may not receive good care. Having a rigid mind makes it difficult for healthcare practitioners and others to want to be helpful. Agin...