Having to think about estate planning isn’t a pleasant topic for most people. Some individuals think more about their assets, but they forget that there’s another facet to estate planning.
End-of-life planning is another important part of estate planning. This includes making plans for who will make decisions for you if you become incapacitated. One area that deserves special attention is your medical care.
Naming a power of attorney
You can choose a power of attorney who will make medical care decisions for you. This individual can make any decisions that would normally fall on you. They work with your medical care team to ensure you get proper care.
The person you name as your power of attorney should know your wishes. It’s a good idea to discuss what you want with them while you can let them know. If you have an advance directive set up, you may want to go over that document with them.
The advance directive is a written account of what medical treatments you’ll accept and what you want to avoid. This can include things like artificial nutrition and being resuscitated. You may also include what type of palliative care you’d like to receive.
The power of attorney for healthcare and advance directive are only two parts of a comprehensive estate plan. Ensuring that you have everything in the plan written out in a legally enforceable manner can provide you with peace of mind and your loved ones with a roadmap to follow if you’re incapacitated or pass away.