Reviewed by a board-certified geriatrician
The short answer: The best time to choose who will speak for you, and to share your wishes, is while you're healthy and able to decide. Planning early keeps your choices in your hands, makes legal documents harder to challenge later, and spares your family from guessing during a crisis.
The key documents
Advance health care directive: names who makes medical decisions if you can't, and shares your wishes about care. In Hawaii, this is often one combined form.
POLST: a medical order for people with serious illness that tells emergency teams what treatments you want.
Financial power of attorney: names who can handle money, bills and property for you.
Will or trust: says how your property is passed on.
An attorney can help with the financial and legal pieces. Your doctor can help with the health care pieces.
Why earlier is better
If memory or thinking changes later, signing new documents can raise questions about whether the person had the capacity to decide. Planning while things are clear avoids that worry and lets you choose the people you trust.
Talk with the people you choose
A document is only part of the plan. Tell the person you've chosen what matters most to you, such as staying at home, comfort, or trying every treatment. Share copies with your doctors and family.
If questions about capacity come up
Sometimes a family member, an attorney, or the person themselves wants a clear medical opinion before signing or updating a document. That is what a capacity evaluation is for.
How Discover Health can help: Dr. Suen provides capacity evaluations for medical and financial powers of attorney, will updates and trusts, with a clear written opinion. Learn about Capacity Consultation or call (202) 670-8838.