Every day people are involved in accidents or become sick. Sometimes this can mean that you are unexpectedly not able to make decisions for yourself. There is a way to ensure that someone you trust can make decisions for you should this power be taken away from you.
Making a document called an Appointment of Enduring Guardian is a powerful and proactive step that you can take today whereby you can appoint a trusted friend or family member (or more than one) to make health and lifestyle decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
It is a common misconception to think that only the elderly need to appoint an enduring guardian. Accidents and illness happen to people at all stages of life and from all walks of life. If you are over 18 years of age and you have the capacity to understand what you are doing then you can make an Appointment of Enduring Guardian.
Too often people think “well if I get sick, then I will make one”. By then it is often too late. If a person is suddenly rendered incapacitated and a decision needs to be made for them often this will necessitate an application to the Guardianship Tribunal. This in turn can make an already stressful situation more difficult with no guarantee as to who may ultimately be appointed by the Tribunal.
Making an Appointment of Enduring puts the power in your hands. You can choose who makes decisions for you and the types of decisions. For example your guardian (s) can decide:
- where you live
- what health care you receive
- what personal services you receive
- to consent to medical or dental treatment for you, and
- to refuse medical and dental treatment in certain
circumstances
You can also make the above decisions subject to directions such as turning off life support where there is no reasonable chance of recovery and enabling your guardian to be able to obtain and view all of your health and lifestyle records where they would otherwise be unable to due to privacy laws.
Importantly, an Appointment of Enduring Guardian only takes effect if you become unable to make health and lifestyle decisions for yourself.
Thinking about not being able to make decisions for yourself is difficult but giving the power to someone you trust to make decisions for you is easy and can bring some much needed peace of mind to you and your family.
At Everingham Solomons, we have the experience and expertise to assist you in making an Appointment of Enduring Guardian which will ensure that your wishes are carried out, because Helping You is Our Business.
Click here for more information on Lesley McDonnell