Caring for an elderly parent can cause stress on adult children. Making sure that all your elderly parent's legal matters are in line will help you take care of your elderly parent, especially if they become unable to make decisions for themselves, according to the United States Department of State. Once you have all your elderly parent's legal paperwork together, place the paperwork in a safe deposit box so that it remains safe. Legal documents should be prepared before your elderly parent is too sick to make decisions for themselves, according to the Aging Parents and Elder Care website.
Will
A will is a very important document because it dictates how your elderly parent wants their money and property distributed upon their death. The will also names who is in charge of making sure the will is carried out as written, according to the Caring website. Wills may also contain a provision stating who is in charge of your parent's financial and physical well-being in the event of mental incapacitation.
Power of Attorney
Your elderly parent should have completed two different power of attorney forms. A medical power of attorney gives you or another family member the right to make decisions about your parent's medical care. Any hospital or doctor providing care to your elderly parent will need the medical power of attorney. A power of attorney gives you or another family member legal access to your parent's financial information. The power of attorney also allows you to speak with your parent's creditors to pay their bills.
Living Will/Do Not Resuscitate Order
Hospitals and doctors caring for your parent's should all have a copy of a living will. The living will directs doctors as to how your parents wish to be treated medically should they not be able to communicate. Living wills will state whether your parent wants to be kept alive by artificial means and to what extent artificial means are to be used in keeping them alive. Living wills can be combined with a do not resuscitate order or DNR. DNRs state that in the event your parent's heart stops beating or their breathing stops, doctors will allow your parent to pass away instead of trying to bring them back to life.
Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate
Out-of-hospital do not resuscitate order keeps paramedics from performing any kind of intervention in the case of your parent's heart stop while at home. This form should be kept on hand at all time so that you can present it to paramedics.
