How to Keep Seniors Safe this Fall
The fall season is a beautiful time of year, but it also marks the beginning of flu season, which can pose a serious threat to your elderly loved ones. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure their well-being during the colder days ahead, including making sure you’re able to step in and help them with their medical and financial needs.
Keep reading to find out how.
Create a power of attorney for health care
A Power of Attorney (POA) for Healthcare (sometimes called a Medical Power of Attorney) is a legal document that authorizes someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. Having a POA for Healthcare in place for your senior can provide peace of mind knowing that you or another trusted person can immediately step in and care for them during times of illness or incapacity, such as a severe case of the flu or pneumonia. A POA for Healthcare can also be used if you need to make a medical decision for your loved one during surgery or if they develop long-term memory problems.
Sign a HIPPA waiver
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations are in place to protect an individual’s medical information. However, during flu season, it’s important to have the ability to communicate with your senior’s doctors to stay informed about their health. A signed HIPAA waiver allows healthcare providers to share medical information with the individuals they’ve authorized to receive it. This can be crucial for keeping family members and caregivers in the loop about your senior loved one’s health status and treatment plans.
Create a general power of attorney
To avoid exposure to the flu, colds, and rainy weather fall brings, many seniors appreciate the ability to stay closer to home. You can help keep them safe and make sure their daily needs are taken care of using a General Durable Power of Attorney. This legal tool lets your senior appoint people they trust to take care of non-medical decisions and tasks, like going to the bank, paying bills, or making purchases. Consider setting up or updating a General Durable Power of Attorney to grant this authority when needed. This legal tool ensures that someone is empowered to manage financial and other non-medical matters on behalf of your senior loved ones during flu season or any other time they might need assistance.
Schedule a check up
Before flu season is in full swing, it’s wise to schedule a comprehensive check-up for your senior loved ones with their healthcare provider. A check-up allows for a thorough assessment of their health, identification of any potential risks, and ensures that chronic conditions are being properly managed. Don’t forget to bring a copy of your senior’s Power of Attorney for healthcare and their HIPAA Waiver to their provider’s office so they can scan it into their patient file to have it on hand and ready if needed.
How We Can Help
To make sure your senior has the legal tools they need to stay safe and healthy this year, call our office for more information. We’ll be happy to share how we support our clients from a place of service and how we can make sure your entire family is well cared for now and in the future.
To schedule your Family Wealth Planning Session, please call (714) 997-7870, or click here to contact CKLH by email.