Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Certified Senior Advisor and Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I have been advised to put a power of attorney in place. I have also heard the term āadvance directive.ā Are these the same?
A. Advance directives encompass legal documents that include a living will and/or a power of attorney. A living will lets your family know what medical treatment you desire at the end of life. This is important if you are unable to speak for yourself. It directs medical professionals about your wishes regarding specific health decisions, specifically whether or not to provide life-sustaining treatment. A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows a designated agent to represent you should you become incapacitated in health or financial circumstances. An elder law attorney can guide you with the proper forms for Illinois.
In general, it is important to know a few things. There are two types of POA forms. One is for health care and personal care issues, the other is for financial and property management issues. Third parties (such as a hospital or a bank) will rely upon your agentās authority to make decisions or transact business for you if they are presented with the proper document. So, you can see a power of attorney is a powerful document. Choosing someone to act as your agent is a very important decision. You should choose someone you trust, perhaps a family member or friend. But it most certainly should be someone who clearly understands your end of life wishes. Donāt shy away from having an open conversation about your wishes! Share your thoughts with those you love. Finally, research and learn about the life sustaining treatments a health provider may initiate. The chaplainās office of your local hospital is a good place to start. They are a great source of information and are there to help. Once you understand your options, you will be able to make good decisions governing your care.
If you need a referral for an Elder Law estate attorney, please give me a call. I have a network of trusted sources for this area of your life. Call me at 847-429-0100.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
