As people age, their medical needs become more complex. It is important for a person and their loved ones to plan for the future in case they become unable to make decisions for themselves. In such situations, a Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) can be a crucial tool that provides a trusted family member or friend with the legal authority to make medical decisions on a person's behalf. Elderly people and their loved ones will want to understand the situations where having an MPOA may be necessary, and they will also want to be aware of what specific issues a Medical Power of Attorney may address.

Understanding the Benefits of an MPOA

A Medical Power of Attorney will allow a person to designate someone they trust to make decisions about their medical care in the event of an emergency or if they are no longer able to do so. If a senior citizen has dementia, is in a coma, or is incapacitated in any other way, a medical power of attorney will go into effect, and their health care agent (the person named in the MPOA) will be able to make decisions on their behalf.

The MPOA will help ensure that the elderly person's wishes will be followed when it comes to the treatments they receive, including end-of-life care. For example, in a Medical Power of Attorney agreement, a person may state that they want surgery to be performed if they encounter certain health issues, or they may decide that they do or do not want to use specific medications. They may also specify that if their condition becomes terminal, they do not wish to be put on life support or that certain other treatments should or should not be used. The MPOA will also generally cover decisions about the senior citizen's living arrangements and care plan.