“Women are more likely to become caregivers around 40yr old for their parents. Start a convo with your parents before you are in a crisis stage. Just start the conversation, it doesn’t mean anything is going to happen the next day. It’s a process to explore options available.”⠀
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I noticed changes with my mother while I lived in Guatemala in 2012. Only when I flew back to the states, is when I noticed how fast her health was declining. I had family members reach out to ask how they could support, but I wasn’t sure since I didn’t know I could help her.⠀
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I started trying to help her schedule doctor’s appointments. When I would call to follow up with the doctor, I was immediately shot down because I wasn’t her POA. POA?! What’s that and why do I need it? POA is a Power of Authority. It allows you to act on behalf or someone else- financially, medically, etc. Many institutions need it on file BEFORE they will speak with you regarding the person you’re representing- who, in this case, was my mother. ⠀
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Luckily, I had a friend whose father helped me obtain a POA. Initially, my mother was reluctant to sign. Think about it, they are signing away their private matters to someone else. I totally understood. Once she did sign, it made helping her so much easier. I was able to schedule apps, follow up with doctors, arrange transportation (as my mother quickly lost her ability to drive), etc. We also were able to schedule her for some fun activities too. ⠀
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Once I was able to communicate with my mother’s doctors, we could make a plan for her health (i.e. regular doctor’s appointment, medications, medical equipment, home health aids, etc). Having a plan that she could agree to made the process easier for everyone. ⠀
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With a plan, you will have a much better foundation.
