Helping a parent
Help without taking over.
Good help starts with the older adult's goals, permission and control.
A respectful start
Ask first. Then define your role.
Begin with their goals
Ask what your parent wants help understanding or deciding. Do not assume.
Separate help from authority
Taking notes is different from signing, moving money or deciding for someone else.
Use the right authority
Before acting for them, confirm the legal document and its limits.
Permission is not paperwork
Organizing together is not authority to act.
A power of attorney is a legal document with defined powers. It is not created by a password, a family relationship or an informal request for help.
- Write down the decision your parent is making.
- Make a short list of accounts, documents and questions together.
- Invite a qualified professional for legal, tax, housing or financial advice.
The CFPB has guides for managing someone else's money and powers of attorney. HUD-approved housing counselors can also provide independent housing guidance.