DEAR HELOISE: I have finished filling out my medical power of attorney/advance directives. The forms say to give a copy to your doctor and the hospital. Since my husband and I have several doctors who are affiliated with different hospitals, how do I know which doctors to give copies to?
-- Julianna F. in Houston
DEAR READER: Very good question indeed. It sounds as if you are getting important paperwork in order. Your family will appreciate your effort when this paperwork is needed. The simple (worrisome) answer is: All of your doctors should have one, just in case. Any health-care professional you feel might attend you if you are hospitalized should have one, as well as your legal representative, family members, caregivers or friends whom you trust.
Here is what I'd do: Get a bunch of copies. Give one to each doctor. Keep a list. This is not an easy subject to discuss with loved ones, so please take charge. Meet with your attorney (if you don't have one, ask family and friends) to get the straight talk and information you need.
DEAR HELOISE: Odds are you've bought a house with new kitchen cabinets or with replaced cabinets. Odds are you'll need to repair them at some point.
Somewhere inside a drawer or cabinet door, tape a business card of the manufacturer and/or installer. My parents, our daughter and we all have had issues where we needed to repair or replace a drawer, door, hinge, slide, etc. We've had our kitchen remodeled and have done such with the cards. It will help us years down the road and for future owners of our home.
Better yet, post the info and/or make a list of all repairs and installations, such as: windows, storm doors, flooring, etc.
-- Cynthia, via email
DEAR READER: A nice hint. Do note that years (many) down the road, the odds might be that the installer is no longer in business. Or the manufacturer may be, but likely does not make that model any longer. It's still a good hint.
DEAR HELOISE: I have lots of opened rolls of gift wrap. I took cardboard toilet-paper rolls, cut the rolls lengthwise and placed them over the center of each of the rolls of wrapping paper. I secured them with a piece of tape, which makes for easier storage.
-- Alexa in Los Angeles
DEAR HELOISE: I accidentally forgot to remove facial tissue from my jeans before putting them in the washing machine. What a mess! To remove all the tissue pieces with a lint roller would have been a time-consuming job.
Instead, I used the upholstery attachment on my vacuum cleaner. It worked like a charm and saved me a lot of time.
-- Cathy S., Ojai, Calif.
DEAR READER: The attachment is super to "suck up" cobwebs, too.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
Style on 06/23/2015