It is common for people to worry about their care as they age. Many of us also have concerns about what may happen if we cannot make decisions. That is where the question of living will vs power of attorney might arise.
Both documents are useful if you are ever incapacitated. However, they are different in significant ways. This post will explore the basic differences between the two.
Living Will vs Power of Attorney: The Basics
Living Wills
A living will is a legal document outlining a person’s medical preferences. Many people refer to living wills as advance directives. Beyond the types of care a person might want, a living will may also outline treatments they do not want. The purpose of a living will is to ensure your medical wishes if you cannot make decisions yourself.
With a living will, you can create a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals to follow. It means you do not have to worry about someone else making decisions for you. A living will can also take that stress off your loved ones.
The following are some of the issues you may cover in a living will:
- Resuscitation: You could put a do-not-resuscitate order in your living will. Beyond that, you could also outline conditions and circumstances under which you do or do not want resuscitation.
- Assisted Breathing: A living will states whether you would allow a ventilator to assist with respiration. The document can also outline conditions and timeframes for using a ventilator.
- Feeding Tubes: Your living will could cover whether you want a feeding tube. Like the respirator, you could also outline various conditions and timeframes.
- Organ Donation: Organ donation is another issue you may cover in a living will.
Power of Attorney
With a power of attorney (POA), you grant another individual power to act on your behalf. Instead of making your wishes clear, you appoint a trusted individual to make decisions for you.
If the concern is healthcare, it could be a POA granting powers to make decisions about medical treatment. However, POAs can cover a broad array of issues. For example, you could create a POA granting financial powers. The document could grant broad powers, or it could be very narrow.
It is essential to understand that there are many types of POA, and they all function differently. Click here to learn more about power of attorney.
Living wills and power of attorney can both be valuable documents for care planning and protecting your estate. Consult an attorney to learn more about these documents and how they can work for you.
