Some people keep powers of attorney or trust documents in a safe deposit box. However, if an elderly person becomes incapacitated, those papers won’t be accessible when they’re needed. These and other important documents should be kept where you and other family members can get at them at any time. That might mean a home safe, a locked desk drawer, or the office of the family attorney.
All of this planning may make sense on paper, but it’s not always easy in the real world. How can you, a middle-aged son or daughter, tell your mother that she’s losing her competency and ask for a power of attorney? One technique is to mention problems other elderly people are having managing their own affairs and then suggest some steps your mother can take in order to avoid the difficulties afflicting her acquaintances.
As mentioned above, bringing in a trusted professional advisor can assure your mother that she’ll have enough to live comfortably while explaining the need for taking certain measures. A professional may be better at describing the situation and the recommendations may not sound as
selfish as they would if they came from you or one of your siblings.
You should do whatever will make your mother feel comfortable yet have a plan ready so that someone can step in quickly, if it becomes necessary. This is a sound technique that is a win-win for all concerned.
