Planning for the future can be scary, but making decisions about your health and welfare while you are able is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself. A health and welfare lasting power of attorney allows you to choose trusted people to make important decisions about your care when you can no longer do this for yourself.
What is the health and welfare LPA?
A health and welfare LPA is a legal document that gives your chosen people the authority to make decisions about your medical care, living arrangements, and end-of-life choices when you lose mental capacity. Unlike the other forms of power of attorney, this document only becomes relevant if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
The importance of LPAs in modern healthcare
Healthcare providers and care facilities are starting to move away from the traditional next of kin approach; instead, they now often need formal documentation that shows who has the legal authority to make decisions. Without a health and welfare LPA in place, these choices may fall to medical professionals and social workers rather than the people who know you best and understand what you would have wanted. Companies such as powerofattorneyonline.co.uk offer help with completing a power of attorney online.
The right time to act
Many people think they should wait until they are older or experiencing health issues before creating a health and welfare LPA; however, the best time to make these arrangements is while you still have full mental capacity to make the right choices about your future care. The document is then in place when it is needed.
Taking control of your future care
Creating a health and welfare LPA can help you plan for future problems, take control of your care, and make sure your wishes are respected. If you choose your trusted attorneys now, you will give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. What happens in the future is always unpredictable, so it is important to put protections in place while you can.
