By: Rick Rauch, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP
Being born in 1964, I am the last year of the “so-called” Baby Boomers. Due to my Dad’s age, I know I need to start thinking about his long term care. He is mostly healthy now. Unfortunately, as we all know, the ravages of time save nobody. For 21 years, the primary focus of my practice is collecting debts owed to nursing homes. Here are some tips so I do not start focusing my practice area on you when your parents accrue a nursing home bill. When a long term care facility is going to admit your loved-one, it will ask a family member sign an “Admission Agreement.” Please read the Agreement carefully. You are making a lot of promises when you sign the Agreement (even if you do not realize it). To avoid me contacting you, I suggest you sign as your loved-one’s Power of Attorney. You need to make sure you have that power. By signing as P.O.A., you do not accept personal liability for a debt if one accrues. I would not sign in your own capacity. If you do, I MIGHT BE CONTACTING YOU. You do not want that to happen.