Planning ahead to engage others
Each year, I meet hundreds of older adults at community events, nursing care facilities and in their homes. Some are still active and full of boundless energy. Others are just coming to terms with declining health and bank accounts. Many are caring for loved ones. Regardless of where you are in life, now is the perfect time to start planning ahead to engage others.
As a paralegal and notary public for the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i, planning ahead to engage others includes having an Advance Health Care Directive and Uniform Durable Power of Attorney. These documents enable you to authorize someone, often called an agent, to act on your behalf should you no longer be able to do so.
According to the National Association of States United for Aging and Disability:
The lifetime probability of becoming disabled or cognitively impaired is 68 percent.
18.1 percent of seniors live alone.
By 2030, many retirees will not have enough income and assets to cover care expenses.
Unfortunately, many people avoid or delay advance directives until it is too late. I am frequently called to meet seniors at their bedside, when legal authorization is required to make medical decisions, obtain insurance coverage or manage finances. Some seniors are sometimes too ill to comprehend or properly execute a legal document. When this happens, important decisions are delayed and resources are not available to meet basic needs.
Advance Health Care Directive and Uniform Durable Power of Attorney documents are tools that can help engage others when you need those most. You still retain authority to make your own decisions while you have the capacity to do so, but having an agent available to help you can make things easier and less stressful. Be sure to think carefully about who you can trust to follow your instructions and act in your best interest. You don’t have to leave important decisions to chance. You can determine your destiny.
With support from Maui County Office on Aging and Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i, I am here to help answer any questions you may have about these documents. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible for my assistance, regardless of assets or income. There is no charge for our services, but voluntary contributions are welcome. Call our senior hotline at (888) 536-0011 today.