Power of Attorney: Who Can Legally Arrange Care?

The hospital won’t take your word for it. ‘I’m her daughter’ is not a legal document.

Two documents matter here. A financial power of attorney lets someone your parent chooses handle money and sign agreements — including care contracts — if they can’t. A healthcare agent, named in an advance directive, makes medical decisions when they can’t speak for themselves. Here’s the catch that trips up families: these documents must be signed while your parent still has legal capacity. Wait until after a major stroke or advancing dementia, and the only path left is guardianship — a court process that is slow, public, expensive, and painful. Maryland even offers free advance directive forms; an elder law attorney can prepare the full package affordably.

Two documents, one afternoon — versus months in court during a crisis. If your family does only one piece of planning this year, make it this one.

This has been Care Without Crisis Explains, presented by Vanguard Care Solutions.

For more free videos and family resources — or when you’re ready to talk about care at home — visit vanguardcaresolutions.com or call 301-327-1444.