Common Legal Issues that Caregivers are likely to face

You cannot accurately predict what the future holds. It’s scary and challenging to envision anything else than a good life for you and those you love. But, it’s good to be realistic about the different scenarios the future may hold, and create a contingency plan in case you are involved in an accident that leaves you incapacitated or health issues such as stroke or dementia strikes. Despite being advised to create a living will, designate a power of attorney for both health and financial issues, most people still don’t find it necessary.

Often, people become more vulnerable as they age. Seniors may be taken advantage of, and this is the reason enough planning is essential. However, most families fail to effectively address these preparations until the plan they had goes weary or it’s too late to plan. This puts the family caregivers in very tricky circumstances and faces several legal issues to handle. Here are some of the common legal issues that caregivers face and must consult with Tacoma lawyers to make the right choices.

Table of Contents

The power of attorney

It’s good to designate someone to serve as your surrogate decision-maker via a power of attorney document. The designated individual can handle financial matters on behalf of the principal, and this is an essential part of planning for unforeseen health conditions and accidents that could make you mentally incapacitated. But the power of attorney document could also bring misunderstandings and issues among your family members and other entities such as banks.

For most caregivers, these processes and transition are never easy. This is why advance planning enables people battling with long-term health conditions, and their loved to make choices together regarding what may come.

Elder abuse

Generally, seniors can fall victims of improper care and abuse at the hands of the people they are close to or strangers. Indeed, elders battling with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are considered more vulnerable to abuse. Additionally, cognitively sound people may also be prone to financial fraud and being scammed. These issues are inhumane and must be legally addressed. After all, seniors also deserve to live happily with no fear of getting abused or being financially defrauded. That means the primary caregiver is likely to wind up in a heap of legal trouble.

Guardianship

Sometimes, an ageing loved one fails to designate a power of attorney before they become incompetent. Or the individual they chose has been mishandling their affairs and misguiding them. In such circumstances, lengthy, complicated, and expensive guardianship proceedings may be necessary to appoint a trusted individual to take of the guardianship. This might mean a hard time for the senior’s primary caregiver.

Wrap up

Whether due to dementia or even out of spite, seniors and probably their family members accuse caregivers of abuse and other forms of unlawful acts. Even if these claims are unfounded, there is a good chance the accused will end up in legal trouble. In this case, the accused should consult with an experienced attorney.