Yes! It is common to think of a durable power of attorney of health care as something only needed as people get older and face chronic health problems. But the truth is that, for the young, temporary disability is the crisis they are mostly likely to face and one most in need of proper planning. Statistically, if you are under 65 years of age, you are six times more likely to become disabled than to die.
The young can face life threatening illness such as cancer that often involve periods of treatment that may necessitate others making medical choices for them and that can come out of the blue. They are also the age group most likely to be in accidents such as car accidents or sports accidents that can render them unconscious and in need of medical care. Even an eighteen year old who has left home to attend college can very easily find themselves in a car accident or in a serious sports injury. Therefore it is important that the young and healthy consider taking the time to prepare a Durable Power of Attorney.
Moreover, as they do the planning they should think of the decisions and decision makers they would want now, not merely when they are old and chronically ill. We usually recommend that our younger clients draft their documents with an eye to decisions that they would want made over the next ten years if they were in an accident or struck with a sudden illness. We remind them they can and should review their documents and make changes as they grow older and/or are diagnosed with a serious illness.
The young can face life threatening illness such as cancer that often involve periods of treatment that may necessitate others making medical choices for them and that can come out of the blue. They are also the age group most likely to be in accidents such as car accidents or sports accidents that can render them unconscious and in need of medical care. Even an eighteen year old who has left home to attend college can very easily find themselves in a car accident or in a serious sports injury. Therefore it is important that the young and healthy consider taking the time to prepare a Durable Power of Attorney.
Moreover, as they do the planning they should think of the decisions and decision makers they would want now, not merely when they are old and chronically ill. We usually recommend that our younger clients draft their documents with an eye to decisions that they would want made over the next ten years if they were in an accident or struck with a sudden illness. We remind them they can and should review their documents and make changes as they grow older and/or are diagnosed with a serious illness.
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