Taking care of an elderly, or otherwise home-bound, individual is becoming more and more common these days. Most of us are familiar with the term “sandwich generation” and what it entails for an entire family. Within our practice we are also observing more often, a generation of adults without any family to care for them. There is a burgeoning area of law dealing with the elderly, or “elder law”. It encompasses providing care, financial management and supervision for the elderly when there is no “sandwich”. We have been asked to serve as power of attorney (POA) for some of our clients. They tell us they literally have no one close to them who could serve in that capacity. We are a society where people are out-living their spouses, children and friends. They end up alone. If you currently help an older individual, who is not a family member, don’t be surprised if they rely on you more and more as they realize they can no longer do everything on their own and have no one else to turn to.
If you are ever in that position, take a deep breath, have the proper legal documents drafted and discuss right up front what time you can allocate and when you’ll be spending their money to hire outside help. I take care of a lovely 85 year old lady. I also have a family and a business to run. I don’t have time to go shopping for new nightgowns, shirts and groceries for her myself, but I do have a wonderful licensed, bonded, kind woman who make’s it her business to do just that. These days businesses exist to fill the need of home companions, errand runners and task masters for all the issues required in caring for a home-bound individual. They fill the “sandwich”, so to speak.
When I needed to move my friend from independent living to assisted living, I couldn’t afford the time it would take to do it myself. Nor did I want to. But Debra had no problem with that! She packed up the old apartment, got rid of what my friend no longer wanted or needed and unpacked everything exactly how my friend wanted it in her new place. Don’t feel guilty, you can’t do everything yourself but, with permission, you can find proper, reasonably priced assistance. Hillary Clinton was right. It does take a village…..
If you need help with errands, companion time or shopping, call Debra at Just a Little Assistance 303-903-5895
If you are ever in that position, take a deep breath, have the proper legal documents drafted and discuss right up front what time you can allocate and when you’ll be spending their money to hire outside help. I take care of a lovely 85 year old lady. I also have a family and a business to run. I don’t have time to go shopping for new nightgowns, shirts and groceries for her myself, but I do have a wonderful licensed, bonded, kind woman who make’s it her business to do just that. These days businesses exist to fill the need of home companions, errand runners and task masters for all the issues required in caring for a home-bound individual. They fill the “sandwich”, so to speak.
When I needed to move my friend from independent living to assisted living, I couldn’t afford the time it would take to do it myself. Nor did I want to. But Debra had no problem with that! She packed up the old apartment, got rid of what my friend no longer wanted or needed and unpacked everything exactly how my friend wanted it in her new place. Don’t feel guilty, you can’t do everything yourself but, with permission, you can find proper, reasonably priced assistance. Hillary Clinton was right. It does take a village…..
If you need help with errands, companion time or shopping, call Debra at Just a Little Assistance 303-903-5895