To help you navigate this difficult task, we sought the advice of Dr. James Tulsky, an expert in palliative medicine. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Choose someone you trust: Your health care proxy should be someone you trust completely, such as a family member or close friend. They need to have the emotional capacity and clear thinking necessary to make important decisions.
2. Prepare for different scenarios: It is difficult to predict the exact situations your healthcare proxy may face. Decisions may have to be made when you are seriously ill and there are multiple treatment options available. Uncertainty about the results can complicate things. Therefore, your agent must understand your wishes and apply them in any situation, whether you are in a hospital, a long-term care facility, or your own home.
3. Have a conversation about your wishes: Start a conversation with your healthcare proxy about your values, beliefs, and priorities. Discuss topics such as your faith, who will be available to care for you, quality of life, the possibility of dementia or disability, and the financial and emotional burdens of long-term care. It is essential to address possible complex situations and how you want decisions to be made on your behalf.
5. Create a legal document: To formalize your choice of a health care agent, you will need a legal document called a durable power of attorney for health care. This document can be created by an attorney or found online for free at your state health department website. Remember to have it notarized for validity.
6. Share the document with relevant parties: Make sure your healthcare agent and healthcare team have copies of the document. Request to be uploaded to your electronic medical record to ensure easy access. If the document cannot be found when it is needed, it becomes useless.
7. Plan ahead: If you don’t have a clear choice for a health care proxy among family or friends, the state may need to appoint a guardian who isn’t familiar with your wishes. It is best to choose a health care proxy as long as you can clearly communicate your preferences.
Remember, an advance directive can encompass several documents to protect your future care, including a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and a POLST form. These documents ensure that your wishes are respected and followed by healthcare professionals.
By carefully choosing and guiding your health care proxy, you can have peace of mind knowing that your health care decisions will be made in accordance with your wishes, even when you are unable to make them yourself.
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