Many people know that estate planning has to do with ensuring that their assets are passed down according to their wishes. Some may not realize that a part of the estate planning process has to do with setting instructions for what happens if they become incapacitated.
If you’re in the process of creating your estate plan, you need to decide who is going to make medical decisions for you if you’re incapacitated. The way to do this is to set up a healthcare power of attorney.
Who should be your power of attorney?
The person who has medical power of attorney for you should be someone you trust and who will make decisions based on your best interests. They will have to communicate with your medical team while you’re receiving care. Ideally, the person you name will live relatively close to you so they can be available if the need arises for them to make urgent decisions on your behalf.
What else should you create?
You should also write out a healthcare directive to give to your medical care team. This must include what types of care you’re willing to have and what types of care you don’t want. Some important choices to make include:
- Resuscitation
- Artificial nutrition and hydration
- Ventilation
- Comfort care measures
The power of attorney and healthcare directive are only two parts of a comprehensive estate plan. Working with someone who’s familiar with your wishes and how to relay those is important.