Kupuna News A Magazine For And About Hawai`i's Seniors (October - December 2015)

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TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF POWERS OF ATTORNEY A. ARE for financial matters, NOT health care decisions B. ARE NOT a license to steal C. MUST be honored by banks & other financial institutions* D. STOP automatically when the Principal dies E. CAN be rescinded or changed F. ALL of the above GENERAL POWERS OF ATTORNEY: Hooray! if you answered (F) “ALL of the above” The legal document known as a Power of Attorney allows a person of sound mind (called the “Principal”) to designate a representative (called an “Agent”) to act for them in financial matters if they are unable to act for themselves. Hawai‘i has a new law that improves the protections and the use-ability of Powers of Attorney. Except for certain rare circumstances, it requires financial institutions to honor Powers of Attorney presented to them. It also makes it very clear that the powers granted to the Agent are to be used only for the benefit of the Principal, not for the benefit of the Agent or the Agent’s friends or family. Misusing a Power of Attorney is crime and can be criminally prosecuted. It is a serious responsibility to appoint someone as your agent. Be sure you think carefully about who you want to appoint. Are they trustworthy? Will they act in your best interest? Be sure also that they understand what their role will be as your agent. Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i can help most seniors get these documents prepared free of charge (they can also prepare health care directives for free). *For more information, pick up a copy of the booklet “Hawai‘i Uniform Power of Attorney Handbook” available at the Hawai‘i County Office on Aging, CSE and Legal Aid offices county-wide. GET YOUR SENIOR ID CARD OCTOBER 02, Fri. Puna Kea‘au Community Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 05, Mon. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 06, Tues. Kona K-Mart, Kailua-Kona 10:00–1:00 p.m. 12, Mon. HOVE St. Jude’s Church 9:00–11:00 a.m. 12, Mon. Kohala Kohala CSE “Old Bank of Hawai‘i Bldg.” 9:00–11:00 a.m. 13, Tues. Waimea L. Yoshimatsu Senior Center 9:00–11:00 a.m. 13, Tues. Kona Walmart, Kailua-Kona 10:00–1:00 p.m. 14, Wed. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 21, Wed. N. Hilo Pāpa‘aloa Country Store & Cafe 11:00–1:00 p.m. 27, Tues. Honoka‘a Hale Hau‘oli Senior Center 3:00–4:00 p.m. 28, Wed. Kona West Hawai‘i Civic Center–Bldg. B 10:00–1:00 p.m. NOVEMBER 02, Mon. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 03, Tues. Kona Walmart, Kailua-Kona 10:00–1:00 p.m. 06, Fri. Puna Kea‘au Community Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 09, Mon. Ka‘ū Pāhala Hawai‘i Housing Center 9:00–10:00 a.m. 09, Mon. Ka‘ū Nā‘ālehu Community Center 11:00–12:00 p.m. 09, Mon. Kohala Kohala CSE “Old Bank of Hawai‘i Bldg.” 9:00–11:00 a.m. 10, Tues. Waimea L. Yoshimatsu Senior Center 9:00–11:00 a.m. 17, Tues. Kona Yano Hall 10:00–1:00 p.m. 18, Wed. N. Hilo Laupāhoehoe Train Museum 9:30–11:00 a.m. 18, Wed. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 24, Tues. Honoka‘a Hale Hau‘oli Senior Center 3:00–4:00 p.m. 25, Wed. Kona West Hawai‘i Civic Center–Bldg. B 10:00–1:00 p.m. DECEMBER 04, Fri. Puna Kea‘au Community Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 07, Mon. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 08, Tues. Waimea L. Yoshimatsu Senior Center 9:00–11:00 a.m. 08, Tues. Kona K-Mart, Kailua-Kona 10:00–1:00 p.m. 14, Mon. Kohala Kohala CSE “Old Bank of Hawai‘i Bldg.” 9:00–11:00 a.m. 15, Tues. Kona Walmart, Kailua-Kona 10:00–1:00 p.m. 16, Wed. N. Hilo Pāpa‘aloa Country Store & Cafe 11:00–1:00 p.m. 16, Wed. S. Hilo Kamana Senior Center 1:00–3:00 p.m. 23, Wed. Kona West Hawai‘i Civic Center–Bldg. B 10:00–1:00 p.m. 29, Tues. Honoka‘a Hale Hau‘oli Senior Center 3:00–4:00 p.m. Coordinated Services for the Elderly East Hawai‘i South Hilo (808) 961-8777 North Hilo (808) 962-2101 Puna (808) 966-5800 Pāhoa (808) 965-2705 Nā‘ālehu (808) 939-2504 Pāhala (808) 928-3100 West Hawai‘i Kona (808) 323-4320 Kohala (808) 889-6502 Waimea (808) 887-3008 Honoka‘a (808) 775-7503 Kupuna News 3 October-December 2015