Most people think about their property when they start to work on an estate plan, but that’s not the only thing you should think about as you get yours made. You should also think about how your medical decisions will be made if you become incapacitated.
There are two things you need to create when you’re preparing for your healthcare if you can’t speak up for yourself. These are a power of attorney for healthcare and your advance directives. Together, these provide a foundation for your wishes to be followed, even if you can’t relay them at the time.
What is an advance directive?
The advance directive is a legal document that provides instructions about the medical care you’re willing to receive and what care you don’t want. It can include things like a do-not-resuscitate order or limitations on how long you would want to remain on life support. The more detailed you make this document, the easier it will be for your medical team to understand your wishes.
What is the power of attorney for healthcare?
A power of attorney for healthcare is a formal document that appoints someone as your agent to make healthcare decisions for you if those decisions aren’t already outlined in the advance directive. This should be someone who knows what your wishes would be in difficult situations. They should be able to provide directions for your care to the medical team taking care of you, and they must be willing to advocate for you as needed.
While addressing your medical care is an important part of your estate plan, you shouldn’t bypass getting other parts of the plan set. Working with someone who can assist you with getting everything together can help to reduce your stress and ensure your wishes are known.