Advance Care Planning

A Power of Attorney (POA) is the person(s) you select to make decisions for you if you are no longer able to make them due to an injury or illness. You can also select an alternate POA to provide support to your primary POA. Designating an alternate is not mandatory but can prove helpful.

There are two types of Power of Attorney:

• Financial Power of Attorney is the person you select to handle financial matters and decisions on your behalf.
• Healthcare Power of Attorney is the person you select to make healthcare decisions for you.

An Advance Directive is a legal document that provides instructions about the type of treatment you want and do not want in the future when you are no longer able to make decisions or speak for yourself. Consult your state’s laws and regulations about Advance Directives to determine whether the document needs to be notarized to be considered legally binding.

• Identify and document your Healthcare Power of Attorney.
• Reflect on your values and beliefs and determine what “living well” means to you.
• Reflect on and document your Advance Directive.
• Reflect on and document any additional wishes.
• Determine what is required by your state’s laws to make the documents legal. In Louisiana, that includes signing them and having two witnesses sign them.
• Discuss your decisions with your Healthcare Power of Attorney, loved ones and healthcare providers.