Off to College or Traveling? Why Young Adults Need a Health Care Proxy or Advance Directives

Many young adult New Yorkers plan to travel in the U.S. or abroad during spring break and summer months. Most travelers do not pack a health care proxy or power of attorney (POA) to assign another person as a medical advocate if they are incapacitated. But they should. Healthcare proxies or medical POAs are a great way to plan for the unexpected, allowing someone to step in if you are incapacitated.

This blog explores the need and options for young adults in New York, or anyone of any age, to have an advocate in their corner if they cannot speak or act for themselves.

The unexpected can happen anytime you travel, whether young adults or older. Consider this scenario: you're on vacation, and a freak accident leaves you unable to make healthcare decisions. No one can express your wishes, delaying treatment, and you receive medical treatments you didn't want. A healthcare proxy or medical power of attorney should be on your vacation planning checklist to prevent this scenario.

Health Care Proxies & Advance Directives Are Essential For Young Adults Traveling

You're away from home and family and unable to make medical or healthcare decisions. An advocate or agent to speak and act in your best interests is necessary if you are in a coma from a brain injury or stroke, are not of sound mind with a mental health issue, or can't communicate. Who decides what care you receive and where you'll receive it? Empower a person you trust to make decisions for you, including:

• Medical treatments
• Medication
• Surgery
• End-of-life care
• The doctors and hospitals managing your care

David Parker will help you craft documents granting a trusted person access to your medical information and authority over your care. 

Estate Planning For Young Adults in White Plains: Protect Your Medical Care and Wishes

Commonly seen in estate plans and often combined with financial POAs covering bank accounts and bill payments, you can choose a Health care POA or proxy. In some states, you can also add Advance Healthcare Directives (AHCDs) to a Living Will. Living wills provide written statements on your medical treatment if you can't provide informed consent. Advance healthcare directives are legal documentation of your medical decisions. Your doctors and family know your choices on medical care in advance, for example, if you want or don't want:

• IV fluids
• Feeding tubes
• Antibiotics
• Life support
• CPR
• Comfort care
• Do Not Intubate (DNI)
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
• Organ and tissue donation

An estate planning attorney in White Plains can help you choose the right option, ensure all your wishes are considered and documented, and draft legal documents to protect you from the unexpected. Learn about college-age estate planning. Read our blog, Is Your Kid off to College? Don't Forget These Legal Documents.

Key New York Young Adult Estate Planning Takeaways:

• A Serious Scenario: You're away from home and family and unable to make medical or healthcare decisions.
• A Health Care Proxy: A Health care proxy allows someone to step in if you are incapacitated.
• Getting a Health Care Proxy: An estate planning attorney in White Plains can help you choose the right option.

Conclusion

Whichever option you choose, estate planning is a smart move for anyone over the age of 18. As you become an adult, and your parents or guardians can no longer make medical decisions for you, it's a good idea to empower someone to act and decide on your behalf if the unthinkable happens. 

Our wills and trust attorney at the Parker Law Firm can help you legally name your preferred agent to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated.