There are some important things to arrange when you reach a certain age, if you have not already handled them before that. With the help of a professional elder law attorney in Ocean County you can ensure concerns around end-of-life treatments, access to medical records and certain health care issues are handled. The three legal documents we focus on here are HIPAA authorization, a living will and healthcare power of attorney. As well as making sure you have someone in place to make decisions about your health care if you are unable it also means you can ensure there is not argument over things like accessing medical data.
Living will
This is also sometimes known as an advance medical directive. It can be included as part of the health care power of attorney or it can be a completely separate paper you have an elder law attorney in Ocean County help you draw up. Each one is individual to the person but as well as having end-of-life decisions outlined will also include the name of who they trust to act as their agent. It might also have more detail such as what hydration and nutrition can be used, what life-prolonging machines can and cannot bemused and so on.
Health care power of attorney
This is the most general type of document you can work on with an elder law attorney in Monmouth County. What goes in it depends on the state you live in and it might also be called having a healthcare surrogate, medical power of attorney or a healthcare proxy. This one document could include the living will and the HIPAA authorization. But it can also be designed so it is a lot more limited depending on the individual and what they want to achieve with it. It is an excellent way to ensure your wishes are followed when you might not be able to express them at that moment, or anymore.
The document will name one person as an agent to act on their behalf and then someone as a backup in case that first person cannot be reached. It is important to keep that agent updated. If the people you name as agents are themselves unavailable or even deceased, none of your wishes have to be abided by as there is no agent there acting on your behalf. At that point, the courts are involved which is expensive and takes time. The document will make it clear when the agent can act and give the information they need to make decisions you would be happy with.
HIPAA authorization
This is the document needed with the help of an elder law attorney in Monmouth County for when you want to give permission for someone to be able to access your medical records. This is what can help them clarify your wishes and make some hard decisions on your behalf. While the preparation for these things is hard for you and for your agent, it is important to get it done so they are clear on what it is you want in any situation.