How to Choose a Good Health Care Proxy (Agent)
By Brian Leosz, BS in Business Administration and Management
Blog
Advance directives & living wills
An advance directive is an umbrella term referring to legal documents like a living will, health care proxy, and so on. These documents outline your medical wishes for family and medical professionals.
Health care agent & health care proxy
A health care agent or health care proxy is someone you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf. If you're unable to speak or act for yourself, this trusted person advocates for your medical decisions, wellbeing, and type of medical care. In other words, this is someone who will follow your wishes outlined in your living will or advance directive, and it's an important part of planning for uncertainty.
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Living wills
A living will is a type of written, legal statement that outlines your medical wishes and preferred treatment. If you're no longer able to give informed consent, this document states your wishes and preferences, particularly relating to pain management, organ donation, and measures used to keep you alive. In your living will, you might name a health care proxy to make decisions on your behalf if you're not able.
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Who’s Allowed to Witness a Last Will or Living Will?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Non-legal advance care planning
Advance care planning isn't always about filling out legal documents. It can also be non-legal planning, like talking to loved ones about your wishes, creating a medical plan, or even just talking to your doctor. It's important to have these conversations and to think about these medical decisions at any age. By taking the first step to create a non-legal advance care plan, you're more prepared for the future.
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Long-Term Care Pre-Planning Checklist: 10 Items to Consider
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
All Articles about Advance directives & living wills
How to Make an Impossible Decision (With Examples)
By Erika Krull, MSEd, LMHP
How to Become a Certified Caregiver for Aging Adults
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
Living Will vs. Will: What’s the Difference?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What Does 'Aging in Place' Mean? A Guide for Beginners
By Claire Wickersham, PhDc, MGS, MS
What Are the Duties & Responsibilities of a Caregiver?
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
35+ Fun Family Tradition Ideas You Can Start Today
By Amy Wolkenhauer, BA in English/Creative Writing
What Are POLST Forms? Definition + Purpose
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
7 Tips for Being the Best Long-Distance Caregiver
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What Can You Do If You Don’t Want Certain Family Members Making Medical Decisions for You?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
By Ariel Sherry, BA in Psychology and Religion
How to Advocate If You’re a Long-Distance Healthcare Proxy
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What’s Medical Power of Attorney? How Do You Get It?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Who Makes Medical Decisions if You’re Incapacitated?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Coronavirus Checklist: 7 Steps to Get Your Affairs in Order During an Outbreak
By Sam Tetrault, BA in English
Moving to Assisted Living Checklist: 20 Things to Do
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What and When Is National Healthcare Decisions Day 2022?
By Kimberly Charleson
What’s the Average Cost of Assisted Living in 2021?
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What Are the Different Types of Power of Attorney?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Plastination Preservation: How It Works
By Cassie Barthuly, BA in English
By Allyson Brooks, BA in International Relations, Social Relations & Policy
Advance Care Conversations: 5 Things to Remember
By Dr. Lulu Tsao, MD
What Is HIPAA? And What Does It Stand For?
By Jerry Soucy, RN CHPN
What is a Letter of Instruction and How Do I Write One?
By Danielle Solomon, MA in Professional Writing
By Katelyn MacDougall, MSW, LICSW
End of Life Planning Checklist
By Carolyn Bunge, BA in History