Becoming a caregiver or Power of Attorney for someone you care about can happen unexpectedly.
You may start by simply trying to help a friend or family member—and suddenly find yourself responsible for decisions involving their healthcare, finances, legal matters, living arrangements and home.
What many people don't realize is that you don't have to know how to handle all of those responsibilities yourself.
The challenge is knowing who to call and where to begin.
You may need an Elder Law Attorney to help with legal matters. You may need doctors and healthcare services. You may need to understand insurance. You may need to find an Assisted Living Community or another appropriate living arrangement.
And if the person's home needs to be sold, there may be years of possessions to deal with before the property can even be placed on the market.
Trying to coordinate all of this on your own can quickly become overwhelming.
I learned that firsthand.
My story began when I stepped in to help a friend I had worked with—someone who was being taken advantage of and needed support.
Eventually, I became her Power of Attorney.
I had no idea how challenging that responsibility would become.
Managing her care, finances and home quickly became overwhelming. Finding the right services—from Assisted Living Communities and doctors to legal help, insurance and preparing her townhome for sale—seemed like a never-ending struggle.
Then, through a mutual connection, I was introduced to Mike Flahaven, a Real Estate Agent known for helping families in situations like mine.
From our first conversation, Mike's compassion, knowledge and follow-through stood out.
He continued to follow up with me—not in a pushy way, but because he genuinely wanted to help. Eventually, I decided to take his advice.
I can honestly say Mike was a Godsend.
Mike immediately connected me with an Elder Law Attorney and helped me develop a plan for liquidating my friend's townhome.
That was no small task.
The home was severely overcrowded with possessions, and getting it ready for sale seemed almost impossible. But Mike helped coordinate the process.
Within approximately two months, the home had been cleared, pre-appraised, listed and sold to the highest bidder.
For me, that was much more than a real estate transaction.
Mike took a huge burden off my shoulders at a time when I felt there was no end in sight.
And what impressed me most was that Mike's involvement didn't end when the house sold.
He introduced me to a Financial Advisor who could help manage the proceeds so my friend could afford the care she needed.
He also connected me with a Senior Placement Service to help find a more affordable and supportive living community.
That experience taught me an important lesson:
When you become a caregiver or Power of Attorney, you don't necessarily need to have all the answers. You need to know where to find them.
Having one experienced person who understands the process and has a network of trusted professionals can make an enormous difference.
Instead of trying to figure out every problem separately, you can begin putting together a plan—one decision at a time.
That is what Mike did for me.
He didn't simply help sell a townhome. He helped me navigate an incredibly complicated situation by connecting me with the right resources and helping coordinate the many pieces that had to come together.
I would highly recommend Mike Flahaven to anyone who has become a caregiver or Power of Attorney for a loved one.
His extensive network of trusted resources and services can turn an overwhelming situation into a manageable one—and, in my case, lift a huge weight off my shoulders.
— Donna M.