Legalese for Care Givers

If you are feeling bad about your lack of knowledge regarding legal choices for your parents, go easier on yourself. Few people are prepared for the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent, preferring to procrastinate difficult discussions hoping the time may never come but it usually does. Few of us are fully informed about the legal options, which relate to their care should they for some reason become incapacitated or unable to make those decisions on their own. It is a good idea to seek professional advice in making and documenting your decisions in advance from a qualified elder law attorney. This brief provides some definitions so you will know what you don't know and what questions to ask.