Mindful Transitions

When he called the Friday of Memorial Day weekend I could hear the panic in his voice. John, acting as power of attorney for a friend, hired me to manage a local move. Nothing about the situation could be called a mindful transition.

The details of why this gentleman needed to move were tough. In his 70's he endured a bad fall requiring skilled nursing with a subsequent move to assisted living.

Unfortunately, this is a common story that hits families hardest when they are unprepared. John, a married man with a family of his own, living two hours away from the Bay Area had not fully realized what his responsibilities would be to act on his friend's behalf.

When things got settled, I was able to meet John and his wife. She explained how their friend became isolated, the beginning of his decline in both physical and mental health. Although he lived in a large apartment building with lots of neighbors, after his fall he laid on the floor for over 24 hours before being discovered.

Their situation made me think long and hard about how serious responsibilities are when accepting the role of power of attorney. The devil is in the details as the saying goes. In this case, it had been almost a decade between the time of being asked to be the power of attorney and being called for help.

It is important to regularly review and update decisions concerning our health and well being as we age.

Mindful Transitions works with individuals, seniors, and families during downsizing and home moves.

Mindful Transitions website
Joanne Devereaux

510-757-7340