Power of Attorney

[Debbieann]

Advice please, I've downloaded the health forms, and filling them in is work in progress, do we need financial ones if we are married?

Thanks for any advice from those more knowledgeable than me

Debbie xx

[Heady]

I think the answer is yes! Even if he has an account of 2, 1/2p, you need control. It just makes everything so much easier. Or it's suppose to, thankfully, haven't had to test it yet. The sooner you get it, the better, if Fred is deemed, not to have capacity, you have to go through doctors and solicitors, £££££££!!!! The form is almost the same as the health one, very easy, just make sure you fill everything out in the CORRECT date order!!!

From what I can make out, after having various conversations with different professionals, Health POA, only gives you a tiny bit of control, where as Financial, give you total control! Best you have both!

Lots of love

Heady

[Yvonneandgeorge in reply to Heady]

Hi Debbie I have age concern coming to do our the don't charge, obviously you have to pay to register them, but you just have to make a donation to them, well worth it the solicitor quoted over 1500 pounds for both of us. Yvonne xxxxx

[Kevin_1 in reply to Heady]

Health POA gives you all of the control the individual would have had if they had capacity to make the decisions themselves. Yes, it is limited to that degree.

Best

Kevin

xx

[NannaB]

I wasn't going to bother because all our accounts are in joint names. All, that is, except for C's company pension. We invested his lump sum via a financial advisor as she managed to get a decent monthly payment as he isn't going to draw it for a large number of years (my dad collected his for 35 years). I found out earlier this year that this investment was only for 5 years and next year it will have to be reinvested or sit there gaining no interest and not paying out a monthly sum. She said it would only be C who could sign for the reinvestment unless I had POA.

I downloaded the forms, got them all signed and sent it away 6 weeks ago. I had a letter to say I had signed mine in the wrong order. I hadn't! After 4 phone calls they agreed I was correct and said the POA certificate will be sent 2 weeks after the 17th August ???? Weird or what.

I didn't bother with the health forms as all C's wishes are documented at the hospice and he has a DNR certificate.

So if you have any finances tied up in your husband's name only, I would say yes, it would probably be a good idea to get POA.

X

[Kevin_1 in reply to NannaB]

Be careful NanaB

Doctor's are required to save life. A DNR only applies in certain critical conditions when resuscitation become necessary.

In the case of pneumonia they would try to treat. Is that what you want?

An advance decision has severe limitations too. It enables refusal of particular treatments in particular illnesses. The precise treatment has to be named along with the precise illness.

This is where a health LPA comes into its own.

I hope this is helpful and not an annoyance.

Best

Kevin

[NannaB in reply to Kevin_1]

Never an annoyance Kevin. Another reason I have avoided LPA for Health and Welfare is because C made it very clear that he wants to be kept alive so "We can go together". ( I did tell him I'd probably go first). He has always had a mental block about thinking about his welfare and death. He didn't want to talk about it. I asked the hospice to discuss things with him 3 years ago and after a long discussion he agreed to a DNR knowing it would only apply when his heart stopped or was in danger of stopping. He has never had problems with his heart or blood pressure. It has been put in writing that he wants to be PEG fed even if very poorly but I have been told by professionals that after discussion with me, it can be stopped if C is dying.

He has a severe reaction to all antibiotics so he has been told they won't be given if he has a chest infection. He has had an URTI and UTI's in the last couple of years and antibiotics weren't given and he recovered.

From the experience I had with my dying father, I think doctors, the ones I met anyway, do take circumstances into account. I was asked if I agreed to a DNR for dad 2 hours before his heart stopped. He had been given antibiotics but they told me they wouldn't have given them to him if I had said no. Unfortunately they kept phoning dad's phone, not mine. I asked for his mask to be taken off and morphine to be given to calm him. He died as they walked in with morphine and were about to remove his mask.

I'm just hoping and praying that when the time comes, it will be unexpected, in his sleep.

Enough of that, we had a lovely day out yesterday and our son and family are coming on Sunday until Tuesday so we have a 4 and 6 year old to look forward to, along with Colin's birthday. He will be 69 on Tuesday.

Don't forget Kevin....you are never an annoyance.

Keep posting.

X

[Kevin_1 in reply to NannaB]

NannaB

No-one could do more.

Yes, my mother's passing was dealt with in a similarly sensitive way by the doctors.

It is such a sensitive area I am fearful of offending. Thank you for your words.

Liz, who is sitting next to me now and I, are touched by the sensitivity and caring in your post.

Kevin and Liz

xx

[Nanny857]

Hi Debbie, if all your accounts are in joint names that's fine, but I would suggest you complete the financial forms, so that if any queries came up re his pensions / investments etc you would have authority to deal with these. Good luck xx

[Kevin_1]

They are not difficult to do yourself. There are excellent guidance notes and an expert telephone help line which is expert.

I strongly suggest you look at the online government site before involving others or paying fees. It is not too difficult and you can save your work as you go along and spread it over time.

Hope this is helpful

Kevin

gov.uk/power-of-attorney/ov...

[Sayer]

Re PoA. It's best to complete both. For more authoritative advice try the Citizens Bureau

Ivan S

[Amilazy]

Fill out both types of POA as both are used at different stages usually finance is essential early and first as signatures deteriorate so quickly and suddenly. We found out the hard way when both bank and building society refused M access to her accounts because her signature not similar to the ones they held.

Health POA is needed if end is protracted and means you can insist on being part of medical teams consideration.

Get at least 3 certified copies of the POA finance documents (copies of health ones not needed) as some institutions especially banks want to hold on to the POA certificate so a certified copy is needed. This on a more morbid note is also the case for certificate of probate after death.

It is cheaper to get the copies at the time of initial application than getting copies later.

Good luck best wishes Tim

[Debbieann]

I have the health ones part filled in and fully intend completing them, and I understand that they would allow me to make descions regarding treatment on his behalf, I think the hospice will help if I need it.

It was the financial ones that I didn't know if we need to do, everything thing is in joint names or my sole name, except for one account, I could change that easily enough. But there is his company pension, he gave permission years ago for them to speak to me re his pension, which he receives as a monthly amount, I think I get a percentage of it when I'm widowed!

But we have the little flat in Hastings, which is in joint names, will I be able to sell it if he can no longer write his name? I guess we better put financial ones in place too

Thank you all, it's so much to deal with in addition to dealing with probate for Mum and Dads estate(yes we have asked for several copies of the probate forms) we had to get the solicitor they'd appointed to renounce too. Then when their house is sold I want to move with my share of it, think that's why I've not completed the POA forms!!!

Love

Debbie

[Julieandrog]

hi debbie

the answer is yes! i must admit we did it through the solicitor only because if you fill the form in wrong, and it is easy to do this , you have to repay each time, ask the hospice for help.

julie x