of Attorney

Golden Gazette • May 2022 • Page 9

Why 2 kinds of Powers of Attorney?

Bring up talk about legal documents and many people’s eyes begin to glaze over, especially if you’re a family caregiver.

After all, you have enough to do caring for your senior loved one without worrying about complicated legal issues and paperwork, right? However, two legal documents can potentially be important in the life of family caregivers and the seniors for whom they care: medical and financial powers of attorney (POAs). A POA is a legal document that gives an individual the power to act on another person’s behalf. Having this document in place could give the older adult in your life the confidence in knowing that choices about their financial life and medical care would not be left in the hands of a stranger if they no longer could make decisions for themselves. A POA allows adults over the age of 18 to designate another adult to manage financial and not have a durable power of attorney, you may have to go to court to get the authority to handle that person’s financial affairs and medical treatment. POAs have the ability to give seniors who have them greater control over their lives. If you were your mother’s POA and she could no longer handle her business affairs or medical care, you would have the authority to pay bills, manage her daily business dealings, and direct her care. POAs can cover both healthcare and business issues. In fact, here’s why it may be important to have both medical and financial POAs in place: medical affairs if, because of Medical POA health issues, they cannot. In general, a medical POA

A durable POA is one that can makes one individual a healthcare stay in effect for as long as indi- agent for another. viduals can no longer make deci- Depending on the situation, this sions on their own. can allow the POA the authority to

This can become particularly do, for example, the following:important, for instance, if a loved one would become incapacitated ■ Direct the medical care that in any way because of a physical, someone needs. For instance, if mental, or cognitive condition. your father was ill or needed sur-

So why go through the hassle gery and you were his healthcare of putting these legal documents agent, you could work with mediin place? cal professionals to determine the

Not doing so can create a risk, type of care he receives, the doctors the experts say. If something hap- and care providers who treat him, pens to your loved one who does and even where he lives while he recovers.

Financial POA

As the name implies, a financial POA generally makes an individual a financial agent for another. Depending on the situation, this can allow the POA the authority to do the following: ■ Access someone’s financial accounts to pay household and medical bills, manage property, file taxes, and apply for public benefits such as veteran’s benefits and Medicaid.

There may be certain things POAs cannot do:

■ Change someone’s will ■ Make decisions after their death (unless, for example, the POA is also the executor of the will) ■ Change or transfer POA to someone else While there are do-it-yourself options to help you create your own POAs, legal experts say it’s best to consult an attorney since state law regarding POAs may vary. Any adult over the age of 18 may want to consider these documents to help ensure their wishes are carried out if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.

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Traffic changes on U.S. 87 / FM 41

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) switched north- and southbound U.S. 87 main lane traffic onto the newly constructed frontage roads at FM 41, in early April. Crews also reopened FM 41 to traffic. “Starting tomorrow, FM 41 traffic will now be able to access U.S. 87. However, only right-turns from FM 41 onto U.S. 87 will be permitted. FM 41 traffic will not be able to crossover at the intersection until the new bridge is completed,” said Seve Sisneros, P.E., TxDOT Brownfield Area engineer and project manager. “FM 41 through traffic will need to use the designated detour crossovers to continue onto east or west FM 41.” Drivers should stay alert when entering the work zone, watch out for uneven pavement, and be aware that the new work zone speed limit will be 45 mph, Sisneros said. The traffic switch will allow crews to begin construction on the new bridge. Work will take place weather permitting. View the directory online: www.WordPub.com/grd1.html.com