Please or to access all these features

Elderly parents

Overwhelmed & Exhausted By Power of Attorney Responsibilities

103 replies

AgitatedGoose · 09/01/2024 19:28

Does anyone else really struggle with being a POA and the amount of time it takes up. I admit I slept walked into this when I agreed to do this for both my elderly parents. I’ve never had a close relationship with them and had a very difficult childhood. I’m also an only child and there was no one else to take on this burdensome task and I knew the problems it would cause if I’d said no. I really regret this now because of the time it’s taking up. I’m trying to manage a stressful job and I live 3-4 hours away from my parents. My Mum has Alzheimer’s and my step Dad is struggling to manage his bank account and organise repairs for the house. In the last week I’ve had to spend 3 hours registering the POA with the bank and now they’ve emailed me saying part of the document didn’t scan properly so now I’ve got to go back. I could scan the document myself and email it to them but apparently they have to do it. I’ve also spent about an hour sorting out the house insurance.
The worst thing about being a POA is that your expected to do all this work for free. I can only claim nominal expenses such as car parking and stationary. I also do free lance work as well as my contracted job which I’m having to reduce whilst I sort out the POA stuff. Consequently Im losing money which doesn’t seem fair particularly as a professional attorney is allowed to charge for their services.

OP posts:
AgitatedGoose · 09/01/2024 19:55

@mrsbyers Yes I would expect some kind of recompense. I had a really awful childhood, my parents did very little for me and I left home as soon as I was legally old enough. I’ve certainly never been a burden on them. I don’t have a big income and losing money whilst I sort stuff out isn’t helping. I hope the admin side of things will reduce.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 09/01/2024 19:37

It’s your parents - would you really expect payment ? Once it’s all set up with banks etc then the admin should reduce and trust me it will make life a lot easier in terms of estate executor duties down the line

pickledandpuzzled · 09/01/2024 19:30

Who would you charge? There’s nothing to stop you asking your dad to pay you to do two hours admin a week, or similar.

It’s much easier when it’s all in your hands than when you are trying to rescue them constantly.