The decisions discussed in this Guide are very important and highly personal. The guidelines below will assist you in your decision making.
- You should appoint someone you know and trust. A family member or friend is best. Often times, the eldest child assumes this responsibility.
- The agent must be 18 years of age or older. If under the age of 18, they must have had their disabilities of minority removed.
- If you select a health or residential care provider (i.e. your physician or an employee of a home health agency, hospital, nursing home or residential care home, other than a relative), that person has to choose between acting as your agent or as your health or residential care provider. The law does not permit a person to do both at the same time.
- You should inform your selected agent(s) of his/her role and discuss the document to be signed. All agents and alternates should keep copies of documents in which they are named in a safe place.