Have you thought about whether there are certain medical procedures you don’t want in the future? Are you concerned about whether your family members would be put into a difficult situation trying to figure out whether you wanted life-sustaining care or worse, can’t agree with one another on the best course of action if your situation comes to that?
Many people are confused about the difference between a power of attorney and an advanced health care directive. These supporting documents help to bolster your estate plan if you are unable to make decisions on your own due to something serious like a coma or a debilitating condition like Alzheimer’s. Most powers of attorney end when a person loses capacity.
However, a durable power of attorney continues even after the individual in question is deemed incapacitated. An advanced health care directive helps to explain your individual wishes and desires regarding private matters such as end of life support.
Rather than leaving someone else, like a stranger in the medical field or your family members to make this decision about end of life support, it is important to articulate this in your advanced health care directive so that you can make a difficult time slightly easier for your loved ones. You decide what you want under the advanced health care directive, and ensure that appropriate action can be taken in the event that you are on life-sustaining care. If you need more help deciding what kind of plan or directive works best for your needs, contact our Pasadena estate office today.
