It’s a common concern whether a parent, which through age or infirmity, is not getting bills paid. Worse yet is when they pay twice, pay incorrectly or are being scammed. For some clients, we use a financial power of attorney to have the ability to make financial decisions for a parent if he or she can’t. Day-to-day bills are equally important, maybe even more important than major financial decisions. You don’t want electricity, phone or cable has been turned off due to nonpayment, for example. Or that the rent or mortgage check hasn’t been sent.

If you or a sibling live near your parent and have the time, inclination and patience, you could try to manage the bill paying yourselves. It means hours of detail work, though, examining every bill that arrives, getting each check paid and mailed and reconciling the checkbook routinely. Otherwise, we can provide bill-paying service as part of our Elder Care services.

We have a system for tracking and making payments and have a secure place where we store checks, invoices, payment records, etc., as well as the reports. We also flag any questionable bills and withdrawals from their accounts.