How important is a living will in a long term care situation?
A power of attorney for personal care (often referred to as a living will) is a useful tool that helps family members deal with difficult decisions regarding a loved one’s health care. The primary reason you would want to sign a power of attorney document for personal care is to convey specific instructions about medical procedures that you don’t want performed or to provide a general statement as to your philosophy on care. The document can be very specific as to what kind of medical procedures may be done and what type of care is to be provided. If a power of attorney for personal care is not signed while you have capacity, upon loss of capacity, either an interested individual must obtain a court order to be appointed as your guardian or the Public Guardian and Trustee must be involved to obtain authority to act for you. If capacity is in issue, an authorized medical assessor must be involved to determine whether you are truly incapacitated. As a result, delays and expense in obtain
