July 27, 2026
Being a Power of Attorney Is a 24/7 Job. Are You Ready for It?
Aging Wisely Basics
Being a Power of Attorney Is a 24/7 Job. Are You Ready for It?
When someone asks you to become their Power of Attorney (POA), it often feels like an honor. You want to help. You want to protect them. You promise you’ll be there when they need you. What most people don’t realize is that becoming a Power of Attorney is about much more than signing legal paperwork.
It means accepting what could be one of the most demanding jobs you may ever have.
The job never really stops
Many people assume being a POA means helping during major life events. In reality, it’s often the small, everyday responsibilities that consume the most time.
One day it’s a doctor’s appointment. The next it’s a medication refill. Then the housekeeper calls off, the hospital needs consent, the pharmacy has questions, or the bank places a hold on an account. None of these situations happen on your schedule.
Distance makes everything harder
Being a POA is challenging enough when your loved one lives nearby. It becomes significantly more difficult when they’re hours away or living in another state.
Simple responsibilities quickly become complicated:
- Attending medical appointments
- Responding to emergencies
- Checking on the condition of the home
- Supervising caregivers
- Making sure medications are being taken correctly
Complexity changes everything
As people age, their care often becomes more complicated.
A single person may have a primary care physician, multiple specialists, therapists, home care providers, insurance companies, attorneys, financial advisors, and government benefit programs all involved in their care.
Someone has to keep everyone communicating and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
We understand that being a Power of Attorney is more than a legal role. It’s an ongoing commitment that requires time, coordination, communication, and difficult decision-making.
Whether you live across town or across the country, we’re here to help you fulfill your responsibilities with confidence, knowing your loved one has a trusted advocate by their side.
Technology Spotlight
Meet Jenny, Your AI Home Manager
Owning a home can become more challenging as we age. Remembering when the air conditioner was last serviced, finding appliance warranties, keeping track of repair receipts, or coordinating contractors can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where AI tools like HiJenny are starting to make a real difference.
Jenny is a free AI-powered home management assistant designed to organize everything about your home in one place. You can photograph appliances, upload receipts and warranties, store paint colors, track maintenance history, and even plan future renovations. If something breaks, Jenny can help connect you with vetted contractors, compare estimates, and keep every document organized throughout the project.
For older adults who want to age in place, this type of technology offers some exciting benefits:
- Keeps important home information in one secure location.
- Makes it easier for adult children or trusted family members to help manage the home.
- Helps ensure routine maintenance isn’t forgotten, potentially preventing expensive repairs.
- Preserves a complete history of the home, including warranties, service records, and renovations, which can be invaluable during hurricanes or when selling the home.
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, I expect we’ll see more tools like this that help seniors remain independent, stay safer in their homes, and give families greater peace of mind. Sometimes the biggest innovation isn’t replacing people. It’s helping us stay organized so we can focus on what matters most.
All About Aging
The Cost of Procrastination as We Grow Older
We all procrastinate from time to time. We put off cleaning the garage, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or finally updating our estate plan. While these delays may seem harmless, procrastination can become much more costly as we age. And if my wife reads this, yes… I will clean up the mess I made in the garage.
One of the biggest mistakes I see families make is waiting until a crisis forces them to act. A fall, a hospitalization, or a sudden dementia diagnosis often becomes the event that starts conversations that should have happened years earlier. By then, options are more limited, decisions become rushed, and families are often making choices under stress rather than with confidence.
Procrastination doesn’t just affect major life decisions. It can show up in everyday ways:
- Putting off a hearing or vision exam.
- Delaying the installation of grab bars or removing fall hazards.
- Waiting to organize medications.
- Avoiding conversations about driving, finances, or future care wishes.
- Telling yourself, “We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
The challenge is that aging doesn’t pause while we decide when the “right time” is. Small issues often become larger, more expensive, and more complicated when they are ignored.
The good news is that proactive planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t have to solve everything today. Simply pick one thing you’ve been putting off and do it this week. Schedule the doctor’s appointment. Meet with an elder law attorney. Walk through your home looking for fall hazards. Have that conversation with your adult children.
Successful aging is rarely the result of one big decision. It’s the result of hundreds of small decisions made before they become emergencies.
It reminds me of one of my favorite sayings when coaching our team: “Sooner and smaller is always better than later and larger.” We use it when talking about feedback because addressing small issues early prevents them from becoming much bigger problems. The same principle applies to aging. Small actions taken today can prevent much larger challenges tomorrow.