Case Study My husband took care of everything for me and our sons...now we are taking care of him
The process of granting or receiving Power of Attorney can be an emotional and difficult one. As it often occurs due to mental or physical illness, however, it is essential for many families and households.
Valerie Miller, 78, recently became an attorney for her husband, William, 86, after he suffered multiple strokes and was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in April of this year.
The mother of two explained: “The first thing we were asked by the doctor after the diagnosis was if William had a Power of Attorney; it really is very important for people in circumstances like ours.
“I had already made an enquiry with ILAWS after seeing their services advertised in The Sunday Post newspaper, and from the get-go, they were incredibly helpful and kept me in the loop throughout the entire process.”
After phoning to enquire,
Valerie was sent all the necessary paperwork to be signed by her doctor in Cumbernauld and was guided and coached over the phone. She said: “Normally, they would have come to the house to talk to my husband and me, but due to the coronavirus it was all done remotely.
“After I sent the signed documents back they were put before a court and it was explained to me that there might be a slight delay because of the pandemic. The delay couldn’t be helped and I was grateful to be kept updated so regularly.
“George Barrie in particular could not have been more helpful; it made such a difference being able to talk things through with someone who truly understood what we were going through.”
Granting Power of Attorney can alleviate some amount of stress for family members as they witness the deterioration of a loved one. As simple tasks, such as visiting the bank, become impossible due to a lack of physical or mental capacity, knowing that you have the power to act legally on their behalf can offer some comfort in such difficult times.
“It has been a sad experience; William was an automechanic to trade and such a clever, clever man.
“He really took care of everything for me and our two sons when they were growing up, so I am very proud of myself for taking action and doing this for him. As long as I am able, I will continue to be by his side. He deserves nothing less.”