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Most of us dont know what powers of attorney are until we need them. But we should all have at least one so decisions dont need to be made on the fly or by the courts.When someone can no longer make decisions, it can get messy quickly if there are disagreements over who should have power of attorney, or what actions that person is taking. Worse, is if someone becomes incapacitated without a financial or healthcare power of attorney, the courts may appoint a conservator to make decisions. This is a lengthy and expensive legal proceeding over which your family will have no control. Everyone, even a healthy 18-year-old, should have a durable power of attorney in effect.What Is a Power of Attorney?A power of attorney (POA) is a document that gives an agent the right to act on behalf of someone else. Five different types grant varying levels of authority. Its important to note that the POA is by state. If you have POA for your uncle in North Carolina and he moves to Florida, the POA is invalid. Some states require annual recertification. Also, POAs die with the person. If you have POA for Aunt Caroline and she passes away, you no longer have any legal right to handle her financial or other affairs, unless granted in a will. Finally, Social Security is a federal, not a state, program. As such, it does not recognize POAs. You must become a representative payee to handle Social Security on behalf of someone else.The five types of POA offer different types of protection.Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) vs. Non-Durable Power of Attorney. Unless stated otherwise, a POA becomes effective immediately after it is signed (and notarized). If it is durable, the agent will continue to have authority to make decisions even if you become incapacitated, such as by having dementia or going into a coma. If it is a non-durable POA, it simply means that the agent loses authority if you become incapacitated. As we said above, all POAs end with the persons death. The person can also rescind a POA with a revocation form, as long as he or she is competent. Most of the POAs listed below can be made durable.Medical Power of Attorney. Also known as an advance directive, a medical power of attorney allows an agent to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. These include surgical procedures, organ donation, choice of health care facilities and a broad range of medical treatment. Your agent will also make sure health providers carry out wishes you have specified in your do not resuscitate (DNR) form or living will.General Power of Attorney. A general POA grants broad powers. The agent can make decisions for you regarding business, financial, legal matters and real estate. Your agent will be able to pay bills, enter into contracts, buy or sell property and manage banking. Because it is so extensive in nature, it is usually used for a short period, such as when you will be traveling extensively where you cannot be reached.Limited, or Special, Power of Attorney. This gives an agent the power to act on your behalf just like a general POA, but it its limited to specific purposes. You may elect to grant someone the power to cash checks for you, for example, but not access or otherwise manage your finances. Its possible to create any number of limited POAs for different agents. They will expire once a specific task is done, or at the time specified on the document.Springing, or Conditional, Power of Attorney.This type of POA only goes into effect in the event of a medical condition (usually incapacitation) or other trigger specified in the POA. A soldier might create a springing power of attorney that is only in effect when he or she is deployed overseas. It can end when the person becomes incapacitated or at a specified date. As with every type of POA, it will also end upon death.When drawing up a POA, its important to be very careful and specific about the agents activities and duties. Financial institutions and brokers will look for specific language, and if its not there, it can cause some big headaches. One financial agent listed on a clients POA was unable to access her CDs because the bank had erroneously listed them as being in a trust. If a trust is involved, the trustee or successor trustee must be the one to make financial changes. These sorts of issues can get thorny and require trips in front of a judge when the person is incapacitated.If you know someone who is preparing to navigate these difficult issues, call(888) 455-5838to reach your local Oasis Senior Advisor. Oasis is a trusted resource for seniors and their families and can connect you to appropriate professionals for drawing up a POA, as well as other aging resources. One call to Oasis offers many solutions.

As people age, illnesses that cause severe pain are more likely to develop. One of the most effective ways to treat pain is with opioids, but its also the most dangerous. When a highly addictive substance is taken theres a risk of overuse or abuse, much like what we saw in 2016 when more than 42,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. Opioid overuse and abuse can happen to anyone, as I, a registered nurse, learned firsthand while caring for my mother.I became my mothers healthcare power of attorney after her cancer diagnosis. I managed all doctor visits, chemotherapy appointments and medication. During a routine trip to the pharmacy for a Vicodin refill, the pharmacist took me aside and informed me that they could not fill the prescription as my mother had consumed 60 pills in 10 days. How did this happen on my watch?I had the arduous task of telling my sickly mother that she had to wait 20 days until the next refill to get relief from her pain. The next few days were exceedingly difficult while mom was experiencing detox side effects from the opioids in addition to the pain of cancer treatment. Thankfully, by the time the 20 days came around my mother was able to manage her pain and only needed Tylenol for discomfort. Opioids were no longer needed, and she was released from their addictive grip.Unfortunately, this is not always the case.According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), older adults are more susceptible to the effects of prescribed opioids. They have slower metabolisms, already have balance issues, and unintentional misuse can lead to taking prescriptions too often, as was my mothers case.According to HHS.gov ,In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that patients would NOT become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. By 2017, the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency.Today, there are processes in place that restrict the over-prescribing of opioids. But prescription opioid addiction can lead to the use of other illegal opioids like heroin or fentanyl, due to their ease of access and low cost. This is a particular risk for seniors who are on a low or fixed income and become addicted.I have seen how medication can heal, and how unintentionally someone can become addicted. If your loved one is prescribed Vicodin or other opioids for pain relief, consider a structured approach, helping them track and dispense that medication.Medication management is a critical service provided by many senior living communities and home health companies. If you would like more information on medication management options for your loved one, contact the Oasis Senior Advisor in your area today by visitinghttps://www.oasissenioradvisors.com/local-advisors.

Understanding the challenges, diagnosis and options availableAlzheimer's disease can be one of the most emotional and devastating diagnoses that effects an individual and their family. As a progressive brain disorder, the disease depletes memory and thinking skills, making even daily life tasks difficult. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 5 million Americans may have some form of Alzheimers. It is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Although extensive global research continues to explore the causes and treatments, unfortunately no cure currently exists.Alzheimers disease damages the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls the formation of memories. Vital nerve cell connections to the brain also begin to deplete which prevent the brain from sending messages to the body's muscles and organs. Over time, as nerve cells perish, other parts of the brain are altered.Simple activities like preparing a small meal, spending time outdoors or driving a car become more difficult for your loved one. As the disease progresses, your loved one can get lost easily, misplace items and even become confused doing the most basic of tasks. As the disease advances, some personalities can develop into a worried, angry, or even violent state.Treatments for Alzheimers disease can include a variety of options and modalities. Working with professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, Neurologist and Geriatrician can help greatly. Cognition-enhancing medication can also prove helpful for some people. Research that is helping loved ones and caregivers establish a better quality of life with Alzheimers disease is on-going but keeping your loved one safe is often the greatest challenge.Oasis Senior Advisors of Northern Colorado can provide you with support and guidance when you feel its time for your loved one to move to a memory care or assisted living community. We offer many free resources so you can feel confident in your senior housing selection. To learn more, Visit Us or call 970-218-5982.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Stacy Wagner, Senior Living Advisor with Oasis Senior Advisors Northern Colorado. She may be reached at 970-218-5982 or by email at: swagner@youroasisadvisor.com