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Take Your Health Care Wishes with You

by | May 6, 2018 | Elder Law, Estate Planning

Take Your Health Care Wishes with You by Certified Elder Law Attorney, Jennifer L. VanderVeen, Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP
Your health care powers of attorney are one of the most important pieces of your estate plan, but in an emergency, they are only useful if they are accessible. A new smartphone app now lets you carry health care information for you and your loved ones with you wherever you go. The My Health Care Wishes app from the American Bar Association lets you store pdf versions of your health care power of attorney or appointment of health care representative along with the contact information for the individuals named in those documents. You can also store copies of any POST (Physician’s Orders on Scope of Treatment) forms, do not resuscitate orders, or your Five Wishes worksheet, if you have completed one.

If you are a caregiver for a parent or other family member, storing that person’s documents with this app means that they will always be available. In addition, you can store other important information such as medication lists, allergy information, and insurance information. Password protection within the app keeps your information secure, even if your phone is compromised.

The app will also remind you to review your information annually to make certain your wishes and medical data are still up to date. More information about the app is available at My Healthcare Wishes App.

For more information on health care powers of attorney, POST forms, or Five Wishes worksheets, contact the estate planning attorneys at Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP.

Call 574.232.3538 to make an appointment to talk to one of our estate planning and elder law team.

Author: Jennifer L. VanderVeen is a certified elder law attorney (CELA) at Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP where she counsels clients on long term care planning, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits applications, guardianships, special needs trusts, and complex estate planning issues. Jennifer frequently speaks to community groups on caregiver responsibilities and caregiver burnout.

You can contact Jennifer by calling 574.232.3538 or by email jvanderveen@thklaw.com.

Disclaimer: The THK Legal Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. In no case does the published material constitute an exhaustive legal study, and applicability to a particular situation depends upon an investigation of specific facts. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. All THK blogs are considered advertising material by the Indiana Bar Association.