How do I start? You can use limited POAs to give different children defined and limited powers over different aspects of your finances. Visit the Legal Services Corporation's website, which has a "Get Legal Help" search function. It allows another person to take action on your parents behalf, ensuring bills get paid and medical decisions can be made in the unfortunate circumstance that your elderly parent is unable to do those things on their own or merely needs help with such tasks. Only notarize for an alert signer. As such, a POA gives the agent or attorney-in-fact the authority to act on behalf of the principal. Waiting to make a care plan and a financial plan can be hazardous to the health of an elderly parent and to the caregiver who becomes filled with worry and stress. Most elderly parents want to stay at home. Additionally, agents must act as fiduciaries. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. "Section 1337.04|Recording of Power of Attorney. Understand the Full Scope of Your Parents Needs, Discuss with your parent what type of POA it will be and what they need it to do. Clients who qualify will receive pro bono (cost-free) assistance. Finally, execute the document by getting all parties to sign it and have it witnessed as required by state law. The key to successful caregiving? If the principal becomes incapable of making decisions for themselves, the agreement automatically ends. Elderly parents will feel more confident that their wishes and desires will be met and that there is a financial plan and a backup plan for care. Sometimes, medical decision-making is included in a durable power of attorney for health care. A power of attorney can remain dormant until a negative health occurrence activates it to a DPOA. If your parent signs a POA allowing someone to act on their behalf, they can still act on their own behalf so long as they retain the capacity to do so. Your POA allows you to appoint another person, known as an "agent," to act in your place. As these POAs end at incapacitation, theyre not a great choice for end-of-life planning or medical directives.