Take a Boomer named Dianne. A week ago she called me in a panic. Her father's significant other had died just two days earlier. Dianne's dad had dementia, and she was his only living relative. She'd already been riding a roller coaster of emotions in the light of the recent loss when she found an elderlaw attorney a few days later. The attorney gave Dianne my name and I found myself helping her sorting out the details that would put her dad's life back together.
1. Step One: Finding the money for her dad. Dianne wanted to find an adult family home for Dad within an hour's drive of her home But how to pay for it? All she had was a checkbook, and credit cards with debt. She needed a current bank statement. And her name wasn't on the account. So she went to the bank and pleaded their case. Her dad was able to tell him this was his daughter and he wanted her to handle his money. One down.
3. Signing the power of attorney. That document was needed for Diane to assume responsibility for her dad's move-in and other financial, legal and medical matters in the future. So she set an appointment with the elderlaw attorney she had talked to a few days earlier. Her dad was losing competency, but knew her and could agree in front of the lawyer that he wanted his daughter to take care of him. Three down.
What an amazing daughter! She should be named "Daughter of the Year!" Her dad will move into his new home in two days, and the whole process took eight days from start to finish. I'm so impressed and proud to have been part of her team.