When you’re choosing someone to take on the role of your power of attorney, it’s important that you choose the right person. You may even want to choose two or three people whom you believe could suit the role, so that one could step down and leave the task to another person if they don’t feel they can handle it.

When you choose your power of attorney, you want to choose someone you trust. There are more factors to consider on top of this. Some things to keep in mind while selecting a power of attorney include choosing someone who:

• Lives close to you. While you can choose someone who is living far away, the reality is that someone who lives closer to you will be able to do more to help when the time comes, and they won’t have to fly in or drive in to do so.
• Is trustworthy. If you choose someone you trust, then you will know that they will keep your best interests at heart no matter what decisions they make.
• Can become assertive when needed and hold their ground. Emotions run high when people are sick or dying, so it is important that your power of attorney can be assertive. They know your wishes and what you want, so they should hold their ground and make sure you are respected in your time of need.
• Is an articulate communicator. If your power of attorney can communicate well, the entire process will be much easier for everyone involved. They should be decisive and be able to explain their decisions well.
• Understands medical procedures and processes. If you are on a ventilator, do you want someone who doesn’t understand the science to make decisions regarding your care? Probably not. Choose someone who understands medical processes and procedures, so you can trust that they will make good decisions about your care.
• Wants to take on the role. Even if you find someone you think would be perfect as your power of attorney, that means nothing unless they are willing to take on the role. If they are not, then they are not going to be happy with being given that responsibility.

It can be hard to choose your power of attorney, but once you do, you can rest easy knowing that the person will be there to help you whenever you’re in need of their care and support.