When you create a durable power of attorney for health care, one of the most important decisions you face is who your designated health care agent will be. To ensure you make the right decision, it is important that you ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the person assertive? The person listed as your health care agent in your medical power of attorney is given the right to fight for your wishes, often against the desires of some of your own family members in a medical situation. Will your Alzheimer’s caregiver assert your requests even in the face of opposition?
- Do they live close to you? While you do not always need to select a medical power of attorney who lives in the same city or even the same state as you, proximity to your location can be extremely important if you suffer from an illness that requires someone else to make decisions for you long-term. Your Alzheimer’s caregiver may be a good choice for this category since he/she will be right with you already.
- Will they also be your financial agent? If you also make a financial power of attorney, you will need to name a person who will make decisions regarding your finances if you are ever unable to do so. Although it is not required, we recommend picking the same person as your agent for health care and your agent for finances, so your health care and financial decisions do not conflict. It may be useful for your Alzheimer’s caregiver to be able to do things like pay bills for you, but you may choose to have someone else do it, like a trusted accountant or family member instead.
If you are struggling with the decision of who to select as your health care agent in your medical power of attorney, contact a reputable local attorney for guidance.
