When considering the eventual care of an elderly family member, legal considerations may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, power of attorney documents, conservatorships, adult-guardianships, and formal caregiver agreements can all factor in to financial and medical decisions related to elder care.
The G.H. Bixby Memorial Library in Francestown has scheduled a virtual primer on elder law for March 18, in which attorneys Davi Peters & John Polgrean of Nashua’s Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. walk participants through relevant legal issues.
“A lot of us have aging parents or grandparents,” Peters said, and the program is designed to be useful for anyone currently in a caregiver role, as well as for others who might want to be prepared for the future, she said.
The topic is a pressing need in the community, Polgrean said, one Library Director Laura Abrahamsen hand-picked due to local interest in aging parent issues. Polgrean himself has seen more clients looking to draw up wills or other end-of-life documents during the pandemic. Proactiveness is good, he said. Because power of attorney agreements factor in when a person is unable to communicate their wishes themselves, it’s important to do them well in advance, when their subject still has the appropriate mental capacity to sign them, Polgrean said.
Having legal documents in place ahead of time help an aging person maintain their personal autonomy, and keep their decisions in family member’s hands and out of the courts, he said.
The presentation will also cover common issues the attorneys see, such as situations where a family member can get paid to provide care for a parent, why it’s important to get that kind of a caregiver agreement in writing, and certain public benefits that a caregiver might not know to apply for, he said.
New executive orders from the governor have made it easier to get relevant documents signed and notarized remotely, Polgrean said, which has been a big help in taking care of business for seniors wishing to stay quarantined, or living in a facility that bars visitors.
The event is free, virtual, and starts at 6:30 p.m. on March 18. Participants can register at the following link: https://forms.gle/Wj4m6WwC2b5UCCmz6 to receive an email confirmation.