Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
I remember seeing my parents Will and it was filled with landmines, as my parents didn't use an Elder Law Attorney to have it drawn up. So I quickly got my parents over to my Elder Law Attorney who re-did the Wills, a huge difference. And a huge relief to me, as I probably would have asked to be part of the witness protection program before I would have dealt with their old Wills.... [sigh]
All it takes is one missing word or one misplaced word to make a simple Will very complex.
There are template forms you can use for both. Free but obviously they will be pretty generic.
Try Willmaker from the makers of TurboTax. They will ask you pretty much the same questions a lawyer would and generate a will and POA based on that. You may be able to do this free by checking it out from your local library. This is what I did. No one has ever questioned any of the forms including the healthcare directive.
Check to see if there is a free elder law clinic in your area. In mine, there are two. They will make a simple will and poa for you for free.
Legal documents are one of those areas where it's a case of "you get what you pay for". I know the price hurts, but trying to untangle a badly drawn Will or POA will be 10x worse. Case in point, my husband's grandmother passed away in 2012 and the estate still hasn't been sorted out and it wasn't a huge estate. There is absolutely zero left to distribute because all funds and assets have gone in legal spend trying to unpick the cheap generic Will she had that a well-meaning friend had helped her complete.
Contrast with my late father, usually a miserly individual. He had a properly drawn Will and POA. Probate granted in 4 months and estate fully wound up in 5 months.
Get recommendations, go and talk to the lawyers, and pick the best one you can afford.
Person at mom’s bank told us to go to office supply store to buy durable POA paperwork . We filled it out, went to bank where it was notarized. It was not so bad, and not expensive, and definitely legal. The same office supply store has a whole section of forms and documents, which come with instructions. Even for wills. Check it out!
DO IT RIGHT and see a proper attorney!! You will have a far worst headache if it's not done right in accordance to your state laws. You can only do POA when the loved one is still cognizant; otherwise, it will require a court-appointed guardian.
Cetude -- you are so right. I have a top attorney in th estate-planning field. He usually charges $2,500, but because he is handling another legal matter for me, he's charging me $1,500. I think that's the average for an average attorney. I worked for attorneys for nearly 30 years, and I still think it is best to hire someone who knows the legal ropes in my state.
Dreisenwitz, when it comes to Power of Attorney, the attorney will be asking a lot of questions. My POA is 19 pages long, so my Will is probably many pages more. Thus, preparing such legal paperwork is time consuming, thus the reason why Attorney's charge what they do.
If you do use an Attorney, be sure to go to an "Elder Law Attorney" as they specialize in everything related to laws regarding us older folks :) The attorney may even suggest you get a Medical Directive which is a guide toward what you wish to have done during your final months. I was so very glad both my parents had such a document.
If you are unable to budget for this legal paperwork, you might try Legal Aid to see what is the cost for a Will and POA.
Mine are about the same length that were generated based on the questions Willmaker asked. I don't think there's much novel going on in will or POA making. Just like with a real estate agent, they ask questions and plug in the answers.
I've looked at wills generated by Willmaker and a high dollar lawyer. I don't see much difference.
My POAs are not 19 pgs long. The Medical is a little longer but it reads like a living will.
With the problems that some people have with using a POA, I would spend the money and make sure its done right. If your state requires it to be filed good. My lawyer has copies of mine.
As all answers indicate here, it is extremely important that this be done right and by someone who either specializes in wills and estates, or an elder law attorney. If there is any senior center in your town there may be there a list of attorneys who will help at a minimal rate, or sliding scale rate. I know it is a huge expense. But crucial it be done correctly.
Most lawyers use a form that they use over and over with minor changes to fit the client. ie names and contact info .. I personally had a will drawn by a lawyer then had to change the will because of some issues with the dpoa, hired an alder lawyer for twice the amount of the original will., when it was done it was primarily exact same wording . Most reputable alder lawyers will give a flat fee unless there are some unusual circumstances
Just be very careful to make sure it will hold up and is properly notarized. Your local city hall or AAA may have a notary. THere are some elder law attorneys, probably a rarity, who will do work based on the task, i.e. a POA is X number of dollars as opposed to charging by the hour. Or try Legal Aid or ask for a referral if they can't help.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
All it takes is one missing word or one misplaced word to make a simple Will very complex.
Try Willmaker from the makers of TurboTax. They will ask you pretty much the same questions a lawyer would and generate a will and POA based on that. You may be able to do this free by checking it out from your local library. This is what I did. No one has ever questioned any of the forms including the healthcare directive.
Check to see if there is a free elder law clinic in your area. In mine, there are two. They will make a simple will and poa for you for free.
Contrast with my late father, usually a miserly individual. He had a properly drawn Will and POA. Probate granted in 4 months and estate fully wound up in 5 months.
Get recommendations, go and talk to the lawyers, and pick the best one you can afford.
If you do use an Attorney, be sure to go to an "Elder Law Attorney" as they specialize in everything related to laws regarding us older folks :) The attorney may even suggest you get a Medical Directive which is a guide toward what you wish to have done during your final months. I was so very glad both my parents had such a document.
If you are unable to budget for this legal paperwork, you might try Legal Aid to see what is the cost for a Will and POA.
I've looked at wills generated by Willmaker and a high dollar lawyer. I don't see much difference.
With the problems that some people have with using a POA, I would spend the money and make sure its done right. If your state requires it to be filed good. My lawyer has copies of mine.
It doesn't have to be complicated to be valid and legal and thorough.
Attorneys are great for using 30 words when 2 would have been sufficient. That's how they justify their fees.