A healthcare power of attorney makes medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Make sure whoever you pick is someone who will respect your final wishes, even if there’s opposition from other family members. For example, some family members might be reluctant to take you off of life support, even if it’s what you would have wanted.

A common mistake people make is choosing someone who won’t be emotionally strong enough to make the tough decisions. For example, we wouldn’t recommend choosing your most soft-hearted child to advise doctors to withhold nutrition and hydration while you are in an irreversible coma.

While you can have the same person be power of attorney for finances and healthcare, some of our clients choose to split up these responsibilities between two people. Our elder care attorney can help you determine what is best for your unique circumstances, as well as answer any questions you may have about your living will.

Ourelder law attorney Grand Rapids Mi at the Law Offices of Sean Patrick Cox are ready to help you create an estate plan that honors your final wishes. We also are able to help with last will and testaments, Medicaid plans, asset protection, long term care options, and more. To schedule your free consultation, call our offices in Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo. We look forward to hearing from you!