A HEALTHY
PERSPECTIVE 1. DESIGNATE A HEALTH CARE
3. ORGANIZE YOUR
FINANCIAL RECORDS
4. CONSIDER REDUCING
“STUFF”
May/June 2018 GASPARILLA ISLAND 35
SURROGATE
This means a person you trust to be your
advocate, proxy, or agent when you cannot
speak for yourself. Practically speaking, this
means that your health care surrogate can
speak for you and make decisions when
you cannot, such as due to incapacitation
as in the above example. These may be
family members, friends, or guardians who
can communicate about healthcare
related information and decisions. They
can make decisions that respect your
wishes related to health care and choices
like whether or not you have a “Do Not
Resuscitate order,” or DNR, depending on
your preferences and health. All these
what-ifs should be discussed with your
doctor and your health care surrogate to
help honor your wishes, especially as you
approach end-of-life.
Organize your financial records and inform
the POA of their location and organization.
This seemingly simple statement can make
all the difference in the lives of the people
who are helping handle these activities,
such as writing checks, paying bills and
keeping things current and up-to-date. That
way, the POA can easily fulfill these tasks.
Such organization may be an organized
3-ring binder or a specific electronic file or
location or some combination of these. And
remember, they would need access to
passwords when accessing electronic files
or information.
We all have it! Even if your home does not
look like a hoarder’s nest, most of us have
clutter or things we own that it may be time
to toss, donate, or otherwise give to others.
As one person said to me, “It is very unfair
that I have been left with all this stuff that I
have to spend time on and deal with.”
Someone will have to address where all this
stuff needs to go. It may sound simple –
unless you have done this for an older
family member or friend with decades of
stuff and collectibles.
2. APPOINT A POWER OF
ATTORNEY (POA)
Simply put, a POA can handle and address
financial affairs if or when you cannot. Of
course, this POA should be a very carefully
considered and trusted person. They can
pay your bills and handle other financial
activities, as directed.