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The Importance of Homework: Planning Is Easier Before a Crisis Occurs

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It is always better to prepare before you are in a crisis, collecting paperwork, assigning a Power of Attorney and choosing an agent for your Health Care Proxy before a health emergency strikes.  Sitting with family to discuss wishes and practical matters is important. Here are some things to consider getting in order before disaster strikes:

1)   Advance Care Planning:

a. A Health Care Proxy allows you to designate and assign a health care agent (family member or friend) to make health decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able. The proxy would carry out your wishes regarding medical decisions (treatments, tests and procedures).  Blank health care proxies can be found on-line, specific to the state you live in.

b. Have a conversation with your agent to discuss your wishes regarding life sustaining treatments (Do Not Resuscitate, Do Not Hospitalize and Do Not Intubate) and organ donation.  Talk about what type of quality of life is important to you.  Your wishes will change over time, so have the conversation regularly.

2) Finances:   

      a. A Power of Attorney (POA) allows a trusted family member/friend to carry out certain financial, legal and business activities on your behalf.  You can assign the agent certain powers, as well as instructions which allow them to carry out your wishes in your best interest.   A power of attorney must be completed when you have capacity but can be used in the event that you become disabled or incapacitated, if you specify so. This document allows your loved ones to handle your matters directly in the event of incapacity without going through a lengthy and expensive guardianship proceeding.  A power of attorney becomes invalid upon the individual’s death; at that time, financial and legal matters fall to the executor of the Last Will and Testament.

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