Advance Life Planning - NYTimes.com "Old, Infirm and at the Center of a Legal Struggle" (Your Money section, Nov. 14) illustrates a growing problem as our population ages. Advance proper planning can generally safeguard against elder abuse and obviate the need for a court-appointed guardian. Sadly, however, there are numerous instances of financial exploitation, neglect or negligence by agents acting under validly executed durable powers of attorney. The writer is a lawyer.