Guide to Healthcare Power of Attorney for Athens Residents
A healthcare power of attorney is a foundational document for anyone who wants to ensure their medical preferences are honored if they are unable to speak for themselves. In Athens, Tennessee, establishing this document gives a trusted person the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf, including choices about treatments, medications, and end-of-life care within the scope you define. This introductory guide explains what the document does, who should consider it, and how the process works with practical steps you can take to protect your wishes and support your loved ones during difficult times.
Creating a healthcare power of attorney involves thoughtful planning and clear communication with the person you name to act for you. It also requires understanding state-specific rules for validity and enforcement. In Tennessee, the form and witnessing requirements matter, and taking time to select a reliable agent and to detail any limits on authority can prevent confusion later. This section offers an overview of considerations such as when to update the document, how to discuss your values and preferences with your agent, and what other supportive documents you might also want as part of an overall estate planning approach.
Why a Healthcare Power of Attorney Matters for Athens Families
A healthcare power of attorney provides clarity and legal authority so that your medical wishes are followed when you cannot communicate them yourself. Naming a trusted agent reduces the risk of family disputes and ensures timely decision making in urgent situations. It can also streamline interactions with medical providers by presenting a clear legal document that hospitals and clinics recognize. Beyond immediate decision making, this document offers peace of mind for you and your family by defining who speaks for you, what decisions they may make, and any boundaries you place around those decisions to reflect your personal values and medical preferences.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach in Tennessee
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves clients across Tennessee with practical, client-focused estate planning services including healthcare power of attorney documents. Our approach centers on clear communication, attention to state requirements, and preparing documents that reflect each client’s individual circumstances. We assist in selecting an appropriate agent, drafting instructions, and coordinating related documents so clients in Athens and surrounding counties know their preferences will be respected. Contact details and local availability are provided to help you schedule a meeting and begin the process of documenting your healthcare decisions for the future.
Understanding the Healthcare Power of Attorney Document
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal form that appoints another adult to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated. It complements other planning documents by focusing specifically on health and treatment choices rather than financial matters. The document can be tailored to state law requirements and to your personal directives, such as preferences for life-sustaining treatment, pain management, or decisions about long-term care. Establishing this document in advance avoids uncertainty during stressful situations and ensures your chosen agent has the legal authority to act when a medical provider requires written authorization.
In practice, the appointed agent should be someone you trust to interpret your values and communicate with health care professionals and family members on your behalf. Many people pair a healthcare power of attorney with an advance directive or living will that provides more detailed instructions about treatment preferences. It is important to keep copies of the document in accessible locations and to inform medical providers and family members about your choices. Periodic review and updates ensure the document continues to reflect current relationships and medical wishes as circumstances change over time.
What a Healthcare Power of Attorney Actually Does
A healthcare power of attorney legally designates a person to make medical decisions for you when you cannot do so yourself. That person, often called an agent or proxy, is empowered to consent to or refuse medical treatment, access medical records, and make choices consistent with your stated preferences. The authority may begin only after a medical determination of incapacity, or it can take effect immediately if you prefer. The document clarifies decision-making authority and helps medical teams understand whom to contact, which reduces delays and supports decisions that align with your values and goals for care.
Key Elements and Steps in Creating This Document
Essential elements include naming an agent, describing the scope of authority, and documenting any specific treatment preferences or limitations. The form must meet Tennessee’s execution and witnessing standards, and it should be signed and dated to be valid. Important steps also include discussing the role with the chosen agent, providing accessible copies to medical providers, storing the original in a safe location, and reviewing the document periodically or after major life events. Working through these steps can prevent misunderstandings and ensure your health care decisions are handled as you intend.
Key Terms and Short Glossary for Healthcare Powers of Attorney
This glossary provides concise definitions of terms that commonly appear when discussing healthcare powers of attorney. Understanding these terms helps you make informed choices about who to appoint, what authority to grant, and how to structure your document to align with Tennessee law. The entries below define roles such as agent and principal, explain concepts like incapacity determinations, and describe related documents that often accompany a healthcare power of attorney. Reviewing these definitions before a planning meeting can help you prepare questions and decide on the precise wording you want included.
Agent (Health Care Proxy)
An agent, sometimes called a health care proxy, is the adult you name to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate them. The agent’s role is to act according to your instructions and known preferences, or if instructions are not available, to make decisions consistent with your beliefs and best interests. You can set limits on the agent’s authority and name alternate agents to serve if the first choice is unavailable. Choosing someone who understands your values and can communicate effectively with medical teams is an important part of the planning process.
Incapacity Determination
An incapacity determination is a formal assessment by one or more physicians, or another authorized clinician, that you are not able to make or communicate medical decisions. Tennessee law specifies who may make this determination and under what circumstances the agent’s authority begins. The healthcare power of attorney can be drafted to require a specific type of medical finding before the agent acts. Clear instructions about when the document takes effect help reduce disputes and ensure the agent’s authority is recognized by health care providers.
Advance Directive or Living Will
An advance directive or living will provides written instructions about medical treatments you do or do not want under certain conditions, such as the use of life-sustaining measures. While a healthcare power of attorney appoints someone to make decisions for you, an advance directive records specific treatment preferences that guide the agent’s choices. Both documents can work together: the directive offers detailed guidance and the agent applies those instructions to real-time medical situations, helping to ensure care that reflects your values.
Durable vs. Non-Durable Authority
Durable authority means the designation remains in effect even if you later become incapacitated; a non-durable authority would end if you lose decision-making capacity. Most healthcare power of attorney documents are drafted to be durable so that the agent’s authority continues during periods of incapacity. Confirming the durability of the document is a common drafting choice to avoid interruptions in decision making. Discussing this feature helps ensure the document performs as intended when it is most needed.
Comparing Limited Directives and Comprehensive Healthcare Planning
When planning for future healthcare decisions, people often weigh a limited directive against a comprehensive planning approach. A limited directive might address a single issue or short-term scenario, while comprehensive planning covers a broader set of possible medical circumstances and provides clearer instructions for agents and providers. Comprehensive plans can incorporate an advance directive, durable healthcare power of attorney, and guidance about organ donation or palliative care. Understanding the differences can help you choose the right level of planning for your needs and avoid gaps that lead to disputes or uncertainty when decisions are required.
When a Narrow Healthcare Authorization May Be Appropriate:
Short-Term or Specific Treatment Needs
A limited approach may be suitable when you need authorization for a specific, time-limited medical procedure or a single medical episode. For example, if you will be out of town and want someone to handle a particular decision in your absence, a narrowly drafted document can grant the necessary authority without creating broader powers. This approach can be simpler to prepare and may be less likely to be contested in straightforward situations. It is important to ensure the limited document is clear about its scope and duration so healthcare providers accept it for the intended decision.
Low Likelihood of Complex Decision Making
A limited document can also be appropriate if you have a low likelihood of needing extensive medical decisions and prefer a narrow, specific authorization. Individuals in good health who want only a minimal temporary delegation or who have strong, simple preferences for treatment can benefit from this route. Still, even when a limited form is chosen, it is wise to consider contingencies and ensure the agent understands any constraints. Reviewing the limited directive periodically helps confirm it remains aligned with your situation and intentions.
When Broader Healthcare Planning Is Advisable:
Multiple Potential Medical Scenarios
Comprehensive healthcare planning is beneficial when the range of possible medical situations is broad or when you want clear guidance across many scenarios. This approach addresses immediate treatment choices, long-term care preferences, and end-of-life decisions in a coordinated way. It reduces the risk of ambiguity for family members and medical providers, and it can include contingencies, alternate agents, and explicit limits on authority. Comprehensive planning is particularly helpful for those managing chronic conditions or for anyone who wants thorough documentation of their medical values and instructions.
Family Dynamics and Complex Decision-Making
If family relationships are complicated or if there is potential for disagreement about treatment choices, comprehensive planning can minimize conflict by making your preferences and the agent’s authority clear. When instructions are detailed and the chosen agent is well informed, decisions are less likely to be delayed by disputes. A comprehensive plan also anticipates contingencies such as the unavailability of the primary agent and names alternates, providing continuity of decision making. Clear documentation helps medical teams proceed with confidence while honoring your values and directions.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Healthcare Planning Approach
A comprehensive approach to healthcare planning reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that both your immediate and long-term medical preferences are respected. It provides detailed instructions and designations that guide the agent and medical providers, which can reduce stress for family members during emergencies. By covering a range of possible scenarios, a comprehensive plan decreases the chance of gaps that leave important decisions unresolved. This thoroughness supports continuity of care and aligns medical treatment with your personal values and goals for quality of life.
In addition to guiding decisions, thorough planning can reduce administrative friction with hospitals and clinics by providing a legally sound document that satisfies institutional requirements. Documenting preferences also preserves your autonomy over medical care and clarifies when life-sustaining treatment is or is not desired. For families, having a comprehensive plan avoids guesswork and reduces the emotional burden of making high-stakes choices without clear direction, allowing loved ones to focus on providing support rather than debating options.
Greater Clarity and Faster Decision-Making
Comprehensive documents supply specific instructions and designate a decision-maker, which leads to clearer, faster actions when time-sensitive medical choices arise. That clarity benefits both medical teams and family members by reducing uncertainty and enabling prompt care consistent with the patient’s wishes. The document can specify how decisions should be made and describe circumstances that affect choices, making it easier for the agent to act confidently on your behalf. Faster decisions often mean better alignment with treatment goals and fewer administrative obstacles in urgent settings.
Reduced Family Conflict and Emotional Burden
When preferences are clearly recorded and an agent is named, families face fewer disputes and less emotional strain during medical crises. A comprehensive plan clarifies responsibilities and expectations, which can prevent disagreements about who should decide and what choices should be made. Knowing that a specific person is empowered to act and that the person has written guidance reduces the burden on relatives who might otherwise be asked to guess your wishes. That structure can preserve family relationships and allow loved ones to focus on support rather than conflict.
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Practical Tips for Setting Up a Healthcare Power of Attorney
Choose an Agent Who Understands Your Wishes
Select someone who knows your values, communicates clearly with family and medical professionals, and is willing to take on the role when needed. Discuss your preferences with that person in detail, including scenarios you anticipate and any limits you want to impose. Provide the agent with copies of your document and relevant medical history, and make sure they know where the original is kept. This preparation makes the agent more likely to act in accordance with your wishes and reduces confusion at critical moments.
Document Specific Preferences and Keep Copies Accessible
Coordinate with Other Estate Planning Documents
Include your healthcare power of attorney in a broader estate planning conversation that may involve a financial power of attorney, advance directive, or guardianship arrangements. Consistency across documents reduces the chance of conflicting instructions and streamlines decision-making for those you designate. Discussing these matters with family members helps align expectations and ensures your agent has the support needed to carry out decisions. This coordination builds a comprehensive plan that protects both your medical preferences and the practical aspects of care.
Reasons to Create a Healthcare Power of Attorney in Athens
Creating a healthcare power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions if you cannot do so yourself, protecting your autonomy and providing direction for medical teams. Many people prepare this document to avoid uncertainty during emergencies, to ensure that their wishes are followed if they develop a serious illness, and to relieve family members from making difficult choices without guidance. It is also an opportunity to express values about pain management, life-sustaining treatment, and comfort care so those decisions align with what matters most to you.
Another reason to consider this planning is to reduce the risk of legal disputes among family members and to make interactions with hospitals smoother by presenting a clear legal authorization. This planning is useful at any age and particularly important for those with chronic health conditions, those planning for surgery, or anyone who wants control over how medical decisions will be made in uncertain circumstances. Regular review ensures the document continues to reflect current wishes and relationships as life evolves.
Common Situations When a Healthcare Power of Attorney Is Needed
Typical circumstances include major surgery, sudden incapacity from an accident or stroke, progressive illnesses that can lead to diminished decision-making ability, and periods of hospitalization where urgent choices are required. It is also advisable for individuals facing long-term care considerations, those with high-risk jobs or travel, and anyone who wants to reduce the burden on family members. Preparing the document in advance ensures ready authority for medical teams and clarity for loved ones during stressful events.
Planned Major Medical Procedures
When planning for a major surgery or medical intervention, a healthcare power of attorney ensures an appointed person can make timely decisions if complications occur and you are temporarily unable to communicate. Providing a clear, signed document ahead of time avoids delays in treatment and helps medical teams proceed with your best interests in mind. Sharing the document with your surgeon and primary care physician as part of preoperative planning increases the chances your preferences are respected if unexpected decisions arise during recovery.
Chronic or Progressive Health Conditions
For individuals living with chronic or progressive illnesses, planning ahead with a healthcare power of attorney allows for continuity in medical decision making as conditions change over time. Naming an agent who understands the trajectory of the illness and who can communicate effectively with specialists helps ensure choices about long-term care, medications, and palliative measures align with the patient’s values. Regularly updating instructions helps keep the document relevant as treatments and personal priorities evolve.
Emergency Incapacity from Accident or Sudden Illness
Accidents and sudden medical events can leave you unable to express your wishes at a moment’s notice. A healthcare power of attorney provides immediate authority for an appointed person to make decisions, communicate with medical teams, and access records. Having this planning in place prevents delays and uncertainty after an emergency and gives loved ones a clear role in directing care according to documented preferences. Preparing ahead reduces stress for family members and helps medical providers respond effectively.
Local Attorney Support for Healthcare Power of Attorney in Athens
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists Athens residents with drafting and finalizing healthcare power of attorney documents that meet Tennessee legal standards and reflect individual preferences. We provide practical guidance on choosing an agent, specifying decision-making authority, and coordinating related documents such as advance directives. Our goal is to make the process straightforward and to supply clear, legally durable documents that reduce uncertainty. Contact information is available to schedule a consultation, and we can help ensure your plan is accessible to those who will need it when the time comes.
Why Work with Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Power of Attorney
Working with an attorney helps ensure your healthcare power of attorney is properly executed under Tennessee law, that it contains the provisions you want, and that your intentions are clearly stated. Jay Johnson Law Firm focuses on practical, client-centered planning that addresses both legal and personal considerations. We help you choose an appropriate agent, draft clear instructions, and arrange for valid execution and distribution of the document. Our approach is designed to reduce ambiguity and to make it easier for your agent and family when medical decisions are necessary.
The firm assists with reviewing existing documents, updating forms after life changes, and coordinating the healthcare power of attorney with other estate planning instruments. We explain Tennessee-specific requirements, advise on durable language, and help you create a plan that matches your values. Providing clear copies to medical providers and loved ones is part of the process to ensure the document is usable and recognized when needed, giving you confidence your healthcare instructions will be followed.
Beyond drafting documents, the firm offers guidance on practical matters such as how to communicate with your chosen agent, where to store originals, and how to notify medical providers and emergency contacts. We also discuss potential scenarios and help you consider contingencies like alternate agents and specific treatment preferences. This planning process helps clients make informed choices and reduces the likelihood of disputes, creating a straightforward path for medical decision making when circumstances require it.
Ready to Put Your Healthcare Wishes in Writing?
How We Create a Healthcare Power of Attorney Document
Our process begins with an initial conversation to understand your medical preferences, family dynamics, and goals for decision making. We then recommend language that conforms to Tennessee statutory requirements and reflects your choices about agent authority and treatment preferences. After you review and approve the document, we arrange for proper signing and witnessing and provide guidance on distributing copies to your agent, family, and medical providers. Follow-up review ensures the document remains current as circumstances change.
Step One: Initial Consultation and Values Discussion
In the first step we gather information about your medical history, treatment preferences, and the person you wish to appoint as agent. This conversation also covers any specific scenarios you want addressed and whether you prefer the document to take effect immediately or only upon a medical determination of incapacity. We use this input to draft clear language that reflects your values and provides practical guidance to the chosen agent in a variety of likely medical situations.
Discussing Your Medical Preferences
During the consultation we explore your thoughts about life-sustaining treatment, pain management, organ donation, and preferences for long-term or comfort-focused care. This helps us translate your values into written instructions that an agent and medical teams can follow. The goal is to create a document that is both specific enough to guide decisions and flexible enough to be applied to real medical circumstances you may face in the future.
Selecting the Right Agent and Alternates
We assist you in evaluating potential agents based on their availability, judgment, and willingness to assume responsibility. Naming alternates ensures there is continuity if the primary agent is unable or unwilling to serve. We discuss how to brief your agent so they understand your preferences and expectations and provide practical suggestions for documenting conversations so future decision-making is aligned with your wishes.
Step Two: Drafting and Review of Documents
After the planning meeting we prepare the healthcare power of attorney and any accompanying advance directive language tailored to Tennessee requirements and your preferences. You will receive a draft to review and suggest edits. This stage includes refining the scope of authority, including or excluding specific powers, and ensuring the document’s language is clear and enforceable. We address any questions and make revisions until you are comfortable with the final version.
Tailoring Language to Your Choices
We ensure the document includes the precise instructions and limitations you want, such as preferences about life-sustaining measures, pain control, and organ donation. Tailoring wording reduces ambiguity and helps your agent make decisions consistent with your values. It also helps medical providers interpret and apply the document in high-pressure clinical settings where clarity is essential.
Ensuring Legal Validity and Execution
We check that the document meets Tennessee execution and witnessing rules and advise on whether notarization or additional steps are advisable for acceptance by hospitals or clinics. Proper execution reduces the risk that a document will be questioned when needed. We provide instructions on safe storage and distribution of copies to the agent, family, and medical providers to maximize the document’s usefulness when it matters most.
Step Three: Signing, Distribution, and Ongoing Review
The final step involves executing the document according to state law, sharing copies with your agent and health care team, and documenting where the original is kept. We recommend periodic review and updates after major life events, such as a new diagnosis, marriage, or the death or incapacity of an appointed agent. Keeping the document current ensures it continues to reflect your decisions and that those who must act have clear guidance.
Signing and Witnessing Requirements
Tennessee has specific requirements for signing and witnessing that affect a document’s acceptance by medical institutions. We guide you through the proper execution steps to ensure validity, including witness qualifications and potential notarization. Following the correct process prevents disputes and makes sure the agent’s authority will be recognized by hospitals, clinics, and other care providers when decisions are required.
Maintaining and Updating Your Document
After execution, it is important to keep the document accessible and to notify your agent and physician of its existence and location. Review the document regularly and update it after significant life changes. Revisions keep the plan aligned with current medical preferences and relationships, and make sure the named agent remains the person you want in that role, preserving clear decision-making authority when it is needed most.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Power of Attorney
What is the difference between a healthcare power of attorney and a living will?
A healthcare power of attorney designates a person to make medical decisions for you when you cannot do so yourself, whereas a living will provides written instructions about specific medical treatments you would or would not want in certain circumstances. The power of attorney gives an agent authority to interpret circumstances and apply your wishes, while a living will communicates particular preferences directly to healthcare providers and the agent. Using both documents together often provides the most complete guidance for future medical decisions, combining detailed instructions with an empowered decision-maker.The living will and healthcare power of attorney complement each other by ensuring both specific treatment preferences and a reliable decision-maker are in place. The living will can direct choices about life-sustaining measures, organ donation, and palliative care, while the agent named in the power of attorney applies those instructions to real-time clinical situations. This combination reduces uncertainty and helps medical teams and family members follow your expressed intentions during critical moments.
Who should I choose as my healthcare agent?
Choose an agent who understands your values, communicates calmly under pressure, and is willing to take on the responsibility. Consider practical factors such as availability, proximity to your primary medical providers, and ability to travel if needed. Discuss your wishes with the person before naming them so they know your preferences and are prepared to act on your behalf. It is also wise to choose alternate agents in case the primary designee cannot serve when the need arises.Selecting an agent also involves thinking about relationships and potential conflicts. Pick someone who will prioritize your stated wishes above personal preferences, and who can work with family members and medical staff. Clear communication and written guidance improve the agent’s ability to represent you faithfully, and naming alternates offers continuity if circumstances change.
When does a healthcare power of attorney take effect in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, a healthcare power of attorney can be effective immediately upon signing if you so specify, or it can be drafted to take effect only after a medical determination of incapacity. The decision about when the document becomes operative should reflect your preferences and the level of control you want an agent to have while you remain capable of making your own decisions. Consult the statutory requirements to ensure the chosen activation method is valid and understood by medical providers.If the document is set to become effective upon incapacity, one or more qualified clinicians typically must confirm that you are unable to make or communicate decisions. Choosing the activation trigger carefully and documenting the conditions helps prevent disputes and ensures the agent’s authority is recognized when it is needed by hospitals and other caregivers.
Can I limit what my agent is allowed to decide?
Yes, you can place limits on the agent’s authority by specifying certain treatments or decisions the agent may not make. You might restrict authority over life-sustaining care, specify that an agent must follow particular religious or moral guidelines, or require that certain decisions involve consultation with family members or additional medical opinions. Clear, written limitations reduce ambiguity and guide both the agent and healthcare providers about what is and is not permitted under the document.When limiting authority, use precise language to avoid unintended gaps that could hinder care. Broadly worded exclusions may cause confusion in urgent situations, so balancing specificity with flexibility is important. Discuss proposed limits with legal counsel to ensure they are enforceable and do not inadvertently prevent necessary medical treatment in emergency circumstances.
How do I update or revoke a healthcare power of attorney?
You can update or revoke a healthcare power of attorney at any time while you have decision-making capacity. To revoke, provide written notice, destroy the original document, or execute a new document that explicitly cancels prior versions. Inform your agent, family members, and medical providers of any revocation or update so they are aware of the change. Following clear steps and documenting the revocation helps prevent continued reliance on an outdated document.When updating, execute a new document that reflects current preferences and provides clear instructions for providers and the agent. Keep the original in a safe place, distribute copies to key people, and consider notarization or additional verification steps for institutional acceptance. Periodic review is recommended after major life events to ensure the document remains accurate and effective.
Do hospitals always accept a healthcare power of attorney document?
Hospitals and clinics generally accept a properly executed healthcare power of attorney that meets state law requirements, but acceptance can depend on the document’s form and how clearly it is signed and witnessed. Some institutions have internal processes and may request notarization or additional verification. Providing a clean, legible original or a certified copy and notifying your primary care provider in advance improves the likelihood that the document will be recognized when needed.To minimize problems, make sure the document follows Tennessee execution rules and include contact information for the agent. Sharing copies with your medical providers and keeping the original accessible reduces delays and helps staff quickly confirm the agent’s authority during urgent care situations, ensuring your medical directions are followed.
Does a healthcare power of attorney cover financial decisions?
A healthcare power of attorney generally authorizes decisions about medical treatment and personal health care, not financial matters. For financial decision-making you would typically prepare a separate financial power of attorney or durable power of attorney for finances. Keeping healthcare and financial powers distinct prevents overlap and clarifies which document governs medical decisions and which governs monetary or property matters.If you want someone to handle both medical and financial affairs, consider preparing both documents and ensuring they are consistent where they intersect. Coordinate the named agents responsibly, and discuss how those roles will operate together to avoid conflicts or gaps in authority during times when you need assistance managing both types of decisions.
Should I give my agent access to my medical records in advance?
Granting your agent access to medical records can help them make informed decisions when acting on your behalf. Many clients include language in the healthcare power of attorney that authorizes the agent to obtain and review medical records and speak with health care providers. Providing this access in advance avoids delays in treatment and allows the agent to consult your history and current condition when making decisions consistent with your wishes.Be mindful of privacy considerations and discuss the scope of access with your agent. You can limit access to specific types of records or make the authorization broad if you want the agent to have full information. Clearly documenting the scope of access and sharing appropriate authorizations with providers ensures the agent can act effectively when needed.
What if my chosen agent lives out of state?
An out-of-state agent can usually serve, but practical factors matter, such as the agent’s ability to be physically present during emergencies and familiarity with local medical providers and hospitals. If the primary choice lives far away, consider naming a local alternate who can respond quickly when immediate decisions are needed. Discuss logistics with your chosen agent so they understand the expectations and can arrange travel or remote communication as necessary.Also check how medical facilities in your area handle out-of-state agents and whether additional documentation or notarization is advisable. Providing clear contact information and a backup plan enhances the agent’s ability to act promptly and ensures your preferences are followed without avoidable delays.
How often should I review my healthcare power of attorney?
Review your healthcare power of attorney regularly and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the death of an agent, new medical diagnoses, or significant changes in relationships. Regular review ensures that the document still reflects your current wishes and that the named agent remains your preferred decision-maker. Updating the document when circumstances change avoids situations where an agent is unable or unwilling to serve when needed.A general recommendation is to revisit the document every few years even absent major events to confirm it remains aligned with your values and preferences. Periodic review also offers an opportunity to reaffirm choices with the named agent and to ensure copies remain available to medical providers and family members.