And who can blame them? Nobody would want to go morbid and prepare for something like dying from an illness. Death is easier because the will (as in the last will and testament) will take care of the legal matters post-mortem but dying is another thing altogether. This is especially true with people who are gravely injured and cannot make decisions for themselves like for instance when they are under comatose or when they cannot speak, move or are invalid. Financial abuse would include misusing the power of attorney, using the adult s money for other purposes, pressuring adults to sell their home or property, cashing out the adult s pension or cheque, or pressuring the adults to buy alcohol or drugs. Abuse of the power of attorney could be intended or a sign of negligence. To begin with, the power of attorney is a legally effective document that states your agreement to give somebody else (a relative, a friend, or an employee) an authority to make special decisions or to do several things on your behalf. It is recognized in common law and civil law systems. It could be a legal or a business matter. There are four main types of power of attorney that you could choose from. These types may be functional and useful depending on your need and requirements. They are: general, special, healthcare, and durable power of attorney. A general power of attorney is a document that gives your agent a broad authority in handling your affairs. Convenience is one of the advantages of having a power-of-attorney document. Take this scenario as an example: you are selling a property and in a few weeks, you are going to be out of the state for a business purpose. Now, you might be worried that an interested buyer would visit your home while you are away. On the downside Remember that in giving a power of attorney to someone, you are basically telling people who read the document or the contract that you are giving the agent full rights to sign for you and agree or refuse something on your behalf. If the agent turns out to be corrupt, then any transactions that he or she handles is at risk for fraud.