Wills, Trusts & Probate
That's All We Do
Comprehensive Guide to Healthcare Proxy and Advance Care Planning
Navigating medical decision-making during times of illness or incapacity can be stressful for families and individuals alike. A healthcare proxy allows you to appoint a trusted person to make medical choices on your behalf if you are unable to do so, ensuring that your wishes guide treatment decisions. In Wilmington, California, establishing this document helps protect your voice in healthcare settings and reduces the burden on loved ones who would otherwise face uncertainty. This introduction explains the purpose of a healthcare proxy, highlights the role it plays within a broader estate plan, and sets expectations for creating a clear, legally compliant document tailored to your values and needs.
Creating a healthcare proxy involves thoughtful consideration of who will act as your decision maker and what specific instructions you want them to follow. In Wilmington, the process is governed by California law, which requires proper execution to ensure the document is effective when needed. This paragraph outlines how discussing preferences with family, documenting specific treatment wishes, and keeping your proxy current can prevent disputes and delays. It also describes how integrating a healthcare proxy with other planning documents like a living will brings clarity to end-of-life decisions and supports coordinated communication with medical providers when urgent choices arise.
Why a Healthcare Proxy Matters for Wilmington Residents
A healthcare proxy provides legal clarity and emotional relief by naming someone you trust to make medical decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. For Wilmington residents, having this document in place reduces the likelihood of family conflict and streamlines interactions with hospitals and care teams. It also helps ensure that treatments and interventions align with your personal values, religious beliefs, and quality of life preferences. By documenting your choices, you give your designated agent clear guidance to act confidently, which can prevent delays in care and lessen stress for those who must act on your behalf during difficult medical situations.
About LA Estate Plans and Our Wilmington Services
LA Estate Plans serves Wilmington and the greater Los Angeles County community, focusing on wills, trusts, and probate matters along with healthcare proxy planning. The team brings extensive experience practicing California law and guiding clients through estate planning decisions with clear communication and practical solutions. Our approach emphasizes listening to each client’s priorities, translating wishes into legally effective documents, and ensuring that signature and witness requirements are properly met. Clients appreciate a process that is straightforward, respectful, and oriented toward protecting personal autonomy and family peace of mind in healthcare decisions.
Understanding the Healthcare Proxy Process in Wilmington
A healthcare proxy is a legal instrument that designates an agent to make healthcare decisions when you lack capacity to decide for yourself. In California, including Wilmington, the document must meet state formalities to be valid, which typically includes proper signing and witnessing. The process begins with reflecting on your medical values, choosing someone willing to carry out those values, and documenting any instructions or limitations you want the agent to follow. This paragraph explains the general workflow and stresses the importance of clarity to ensure that your preferences are honored across different care settings.
Selecting an appropriate agent and communicating your wishes are central to an effective healthcare proxy. The agent will need access to medical records, familiarity with your preferences regarding treatments, and the ability to speak with healthcare professionals on your behalf if necessary. In Wilmington, it is also wise to provide copies of the document to your agent, family members, and your primary care provider so the proxy is accessible when it matters most. Periodic review and updates ensure the document reflects any changes in relationships, health, or personal values over time.
What a Healthcare Proxy Is and How It Works
A healthcare proxy, sometimes called a durable power of attorney for healthcare, authorizes a chosen agent to make medical decisions for you if you cannot express your own wishes. That authority may include consenting to or refusing treatments, selecting or discharging providers, and making decisions about life-sustaining measures, all guided by your stated preferences. The document functions in tandem with a living will when you want to specify detailed instructions for certain circumstances. Proper drafting and communication help ensure the proxy is respected by hospitals, clinics, and other care providers across Wilmington and beyond.
Key Elements and Steps to Create a Valid Healthcare Proxy
A valid healthcare proxy contains several core elements: the clear identification of you and your appointed agent, a description of the agent’s decision-making powers, any limitations or special instructions you want included, and proper signature and witness provisions as required by California law. The process typically includes an initial consultation to clarify values, drafting tailored language to reflect those wishes, and careful execution in the presence of required witnesses. After signing, it is recommended to distribute copies and provide the agent with access to any advance directive documents or medical records that support decision-making.
Glossary of Important Terms for Healthcare Proxy Planning
Understanding the common terms used in healthcare proxy and advance care planning helps you make informed choices. This glossary clarifies roles, documents, and legal concepts you may encounter while preparing a proxy in Wilmington. Familiarity with these definitions supports better conversations with your designated agent and healthcare providers. It also helps you determine what additional documents you might need to pair with a healthcare proxy to achieve a complete plan for medical and personal decision-making. Clear terminology reduces confusion when an urgent decision arises and ensures that documentation is used correctly.
Healthcare Agent
A healthcare agent is the individual you designate in your proxy to make medical decisions if you are unable to do so. This person should understand your values and be willing to communicate with doctors and care teams on your behalf. Their role may involve interpreting your wishes, consenting to or declining treatments consistent with your instructions, and coordinating with family members. Choosing an agent who can handle emotionally charged situations, follow your documented preferences, and access necessary medical information helps ensure that care aligns with your priorities when you cannot speak for yourself.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare is another name for a healthcare proxy that underscores the durability of the authority granted: it remains in effect even if you lose mental capacity. This document typically sets out the scope of decisions the agent may make, whether broad authority or specific limitations. It is important to draft clear language about the agent’s powers and any express instructions you want followed. Proper execution according to California requirements ensures the document will be relied upon by healthcare providers in Wilmington hospitals and clinics.
Incapacity
Incapacity refers to a medical or mental state in which a person is unable to understand, appreciate, or communicate key decisions about their healthcare. This condition can result from illness, injury, or cognitive decline and is the circumstance that activates the authority of a healthcare agent under a proxy. Determining incapacity typically involves evaluation by medical professionals who document the patient’s condition. When incapacity is confirmed, the named agent steps in to make decisions consistent with the principal’s documented preferences and any applicable legal standards.
Living Will
A living will is a written statement that records your specific treatment preferences, particularly regarding life-sustaining measures, resuscitation, and end-of-life care. While a healthcare proxy appoints someone to make decisions, a living will provides explicit instructions that guide the agent and medical providers. Having both documents can minimize uncertainty by pairing an agent’s authority with clear statements about the types of care you do or do not want. Together, they support honoring your wishes across different medical scenarios and help streamline communication with care teams.
Comparing a Healthcare Proxy to Other Advance Planning Tools
When planning for medical decisions, it is helpful to understand how a healthcare proxy differs from and complements other documents like living wills and general powers of attorney. A healthcare proxy focuses on medical decision-making authority, while a living will expresses specific treatment preferences and a financial power of attorney covers monetary matters. Selecting the right combination depends on your goals, family dynamics, and the degree of direction you want to provide. In many cases, pairing a proxy with a living will creates both authority and guidance, leading to smoother decision-making during stressful medical events.
When a Standalone Healthcare Proxy May Be Appropriate:
Clear Decision-Making Needs Without Complex Financial Concerns
A standalone healthcare proxy can be sufficient when your primary concern is ensuring medical decisions are made by someone you trust and your financial affairs are straightforward or already otherwise managed. If you have clear preferences about medical treatment and a reliable agent who understands those wishes, a simple proxy may provide the authority needed for hospitals and providers to act. This approach is often appropriate for individuals who do not require extensive estate planning, wish to avoid unnecessary documents, and prioritize rapid clarity for healthcare teams during emergencies.
Simplicity and Ease of Creation for Immediate Needs
Choosing a limited approach with just a healthcare proxy can be appealing when you want a quick, accessible way to protect your medical decision-making preferences without drafting a full estate plan. This route can be helpful for younger adults, healthy individuals, or anyone seeking to appoint an agent promptly before an impending medical procedure. By focusing on the essential legal formalities and agent selection, you gain immediate protection while retaining the option to expand your documents later to include financial powers or a living will if circumstances change.
Why a Broader Estate Planning Approach Often Makes Sense:
Complex Family or Financial Situations Require Coordinated Documents
When family dynamics, substantial assets, or blended households are involved, a comprehensive approach that includes a healthcare proxy alongside financial powers, wills, and trusts provides coordinated protection. Integrated planning ensures that medical decision authority aligns with financial decision-making and end-of-life directives, reducing the chance of conflicting directions among family members. This holistic planning can prevent delays, contested decisions, and legal complications by clearly documenting who makes which decisions and how those decisions should be carried out.
Managing Long-Term Medical Conditions and Future Changes
For individuals with chronic, progressive, or anticipated medical needs, comprehensive planning allows for detailed instructions and contingencies that adapt over time. Combining a healthcare proxy with a living will, for example, helps specify how treatments should evolve as conditions change. Comprehensive documents also make it easier to update provisions following major life events such as marriage, divorce, or relocation. This foresight reduces uncertainty for both designated decision makers and medical teams when future health scenarios arise that require nuanced judgment.
Advantages of Taking a Thorough Approach to Healthcare Proxy Planning
A comprehensive planning approach brings several benefits, including clear alignment between medical directives and financial arrangements, reduced potential for family disputes, and easier coordination with healthcare providers. By documenting both who will act and what choices should be made, you create a unified plan that supports well-informed decisions during stressful moments. This reduces the likelihood of delays in treatment and provides practical guidance to your appointed agent so they can advocate for care consistent with your values and priorities without second-guessing.
In addition to clarifying decision-making authority, a thorough plan supports better communication among family members and medical teams by providing accessible, signed documents that outline expectations. It also makes it simpler to adapt documents when circumstances change, since integrated planning reveals how different directives interact. Overall, a coordinated estate planning strategy helps preserve personal autonomy, maintain family harmony, and ensure that both immediate medical preferences and longer-term concerns are addressed thoughtfully and legally.
Greater Consistency in Care Decisions
When medical and legal directives are aligned, there is greater consistency in healthcare decisions during high-pressure situations. A comprehensive plan that includes a proxy and clear written instructions ensures that your agent and providers share the same understanding of your wishes. This consistency reduces the chance of conflicting interpretations and helps medical teams implement care plans more efficiently. It also provides comfort to family members knowing that decisions are guided by documented preferences rather than uncertain assumptions or disagreements.
Smoother Communication with Medical Providers
Clear, signed documents make conversations with doctors and hospital staff more productive by establishing who has decision-making authority and what the principal’s stated wishes are. A comprehensive set of directives helps bridge communication gaps between family members, care teams, and legal representatives, facilitating timely decisions that reflect the patient’s values. This smoother interaction can reduce delays in care and ensure that treatment choices align with previously expressed preferences, which is especially important in emergency situations or when specialized medical judgment is required.
Practice Areas
Top Searched Keywords
- Wilmington healthcare proxy attorney
- healthcare directive Wilmington CA
- durable power of attorney for healthcare Wilmington
- living will and healthcare proxy Los Angeles County
- advance care planning Wilmington
- medical decision maker form California
- appoint healthcare agent Wilmington CA
- healthcare proxy questions Los Angeles
- update healthcare proxy Wilmington
Practical Tips for Healthcare Proxy Planning
Choose Your Healthcare Agent Thoughtfully
Selecting an appropriate healthcare agent involves more than picking a close family member; consider who can communicate with medical staff, remain calm under pressure, and follow your stated wishes. Discuss specific preferences with the prospective agent to ensure they understand and accept the responsibilities. Provide them with relevant medical history, a copy of your directives, and guidance on where documents are stored. Open communication helps prepare the agent to advocate effectively on your behalf during unexpected medical events.
Keep Your Healthcare Proxy Up to Date
Inform Family Members About Your Decisions
Talking to family members about your healthcare preferences and who you have appointed as agent can prevent disputes and improve coordination during medical crises. Explain the reasoning behind your choices and share copies of your healthcare proxy and any living will with close relatives and your primary care provider. Transparent conversations build understanding and reduce the emotional burden on loved ones when decisions must be made quickly, helping them support your agent in carrying out your wishes.
Why Wilmington Residents Should Consider a Healthcare Proxy
Establishing a healthcare proxy grants you greater control over medical decisions by naming a trusted agent to act on your behalf if you cannot communicate. This protects your autonomy and reduces uncertainty for family members who might otherwise face legal obstacles when trying to consent to or decline treatments. A signed and properly witnessed proxy ensures that hospitals and care teams recognize your chosen decision maker, which can prevent delays and help secure medical care consistent with your values in emergency and non-emergency situations alike.
Beyond immediate medical emergencies, a healthcare proxy offers peace of mind for people of all ages and health conditions. It is especially valuable if you have chronic health concerns, are scheduled for a procedure, or simply want to document your wishes to ease family decision-making in the future. By pairing a proxy with clear conversations and written instructions, you make it easier for your chosen agent to act confidently and in ways that reflect your priorities, protecting both your decision-making rights and your loved ones from unnecessary conflict.
Common Situations When a Healthcare Proxy Is Needed
Healthcare proxies are important in situations such as sudden accidents, strokes, progressive cognitive conditions, and major surgeries where the ability to make informed decisions may be lost temporarily or permanently. They also benefit individuals planning for aging, those with serious chronic illness, and anyone who wants to avoid placing the burden of medical decisions on uncertain family consensus. Preparing a proxy helps ensure that your preferences guide medical treatment across a wide range of foreseeable and unforeseeable health events.
Unexpected Medical Emergencies
Sudden medical crises like accidents, strokes, or severe infections can leave a person unable to communicate quickly or at all. In these cases, a healthcare proxy enables a designated agent to step in immediately to make urgent decisions about life-sustaining treatment, surgical interventions, and other time-sensitive care. Having a signed document ready reduces delays in care and allows medical teams to engage with a legally authorized individual who understands the patient’s preferences, streamlining the decision-making process.
Progressive or Chronic Illness
For those living with progressive or chronic health conditions, a healthcare proxy provides an ongoing plan for when decision-making capacity changes over time. It allows the agent to coordinate care, interpret changing medical situations, and make choices that reflect prior discussions and documented wishes. This continuity helps maintain dignity and consistency of care as conditions evolve, and it offers family members a clear framework for understanding who will make decisions and how those decisions should align with the patient’s values.
Planned Medical Procedures
When you are scheduled for surgery or other medical procedures that carry risk, having a healthcare proxy in place ensures someone you trust can make immediate decisions if complications arise. The agent can consent to or decline interventions, communicate with surgical teams, and follow any pre-documented instructions you have provided. This preparedness reduces uncertainty and helps medical professionals proceed quickly when unexpected situations develop during or after a procedure.
We Are Here to Help Wilmington Residents with Healthcare Proxy Planning
Why Wilmington Clients Choose LA Estate Plans for Healthcare Proxy Needs
Clients select LA Estate Plans for our local knowledge of California law and our clear, client-centered approach to healthcare proxy planning. We focus on listening to your priorities and translating them into legally sound documents that are easy to follow in medical settings. Our process emphasizes careful drafting, proper execution, and practical guidance on distributing copies so your agent and medical providers have what they need when decisions arise. Wilmington residents value our attention to detail and our commitment to straightforward communication.
Working with our team means gaining assistance with every step, from discussing sensitive preferences to ensuring witnesses and signatures meet state requirements. We help clients evaluate who is best positioned to act as an agent, draft tailored instructions to reflect personal values, and advise on how to maintain and update documents over time. This support reduces uncertainty for families and helps ensure that medical care is delivered in a manner consistent with the principal’s documented wishes.
Our approach also includes practical recommendations for sharing documents with key parties, preparing an emergency packet of directives, and coordinating with other estate planning instruments if broader protection is needed. By addressing both the legal and practical aspects of healthcare proxy planning, we aim to make the process as seamless as possible so Wilmington residents can feel confident that their medical preferences are known and respected.
Contact LA Estate Plans to Begin Your Healthcare Proxy Planning
How the Healthcare Proxy Process Works at Our Wilmington Office
Our process begins with a focused conversation to learn about your healthcare values, family dynamics, and any existing directives. From there we draft a healthcare proxy tailored to your preferences and review it with you to ensure clarity. We guide you through signing and witnessing requirements under California law and advise on distributing copies to your agent, family members, and healthcare providers. Follow-up recommendations include storing originals in accessible locations and scheduling periodic reviews to keep documents current and aligned with any life changes.
Initial Consultation and Assessment
The first step is a confidential consultation to identify your priorities, discuss potential agents, and outline the decisions you want the proxy to cover. During this meeting we ask about your healthcare values and any specific instructions you want included, so the resulting document will reflect your wishes. This early discussion also helps us identify if additional documents, such as a living will or financial power of attorney, would be beneficial to create a coordinated plan that addresses both medical and related concerns.
Discussing Your Healthcare Preferences
In this phase we explore your views on treatments, life-sustaining care, and other medical decisions that matter most to you. Clear documentation of these preferences helps your agent and providers make choices consistent with your values. We encourage thoughtful conversation about scenarios where you would want certain interventions and where you would decline them. Recording these instructions in plain language helps avoid misunderstandings and gives your agent concrete guidance when making difficult decisions.
Choosing a Reliable Agent
Selecting an agent who can act calmly under pressure and communicate with medical teams is a critical step. We discuss practical considerations such as proximity, availability, and willingness to carry out your preferences. It is also helpful to name alternate agents in case the primary choice is unavailable. Preparing the chosen agent by sharing your directives and medical history ensures they understand the responsibility and can advocate effectively on your behalf when the need arises.
Drafting and Review of Documents
After understanding your wishes, we draft a healthcare proxy that reflects your instructions and complies with California formalities. The draft is reviewed with you to confirm that the language accurately captures your decisions and any limitations you wish to impose on the agent’s authority. We make revisions as needed to ensure clarity and practicality. This collaborative review reduces the chance of ambiguity and helps guarantee that the proxy will be interpreted as you intend when it is used in medical settings.
Preparing Clear and Practical Language
We focus on drafting language that is both legally sufficient and easy for agents and medical professionals to follow. Avoiding vague or contradictory phrasing helps reduce disputes and speeds decision-making. The goal is to create a document that makes your wishes unmistakable, while also providing your agent with the flexibility to respond to unforeseen medical scenarios in a manner consistent with your values. Clear drafting also helps healthcare teams rely on the document when time-sensitive choices must be made.
Review and Client Approval
Once the draft reflects your intentions, we walk through each provision to confirm your approval and answer any remaining questions. This review ensures you understand how the proxy will function and what authority the agent will hold. If you request changes, we incorporate them and provide a final version for signature. The review process is an opportunity to verify that all parties are aligned and that the document is ready to be executed in accordance with California requirements.
Execution, Witnessing, and Distribution
The final step is properly signing the healthcare proxy with any required witnesses and distributing copies to relevant parties. We explain witness requirements, help coordinate execution, and advise on safe storage. Providing copies to your agent, primary care provider, and family members increases the likelihood that the document will be available when needed. We also recommend creating an emergency packet or digital copy so medical staff can quickly identify your appointed agent and follow your documented preferences in urgent situations.
Signing with Proper Witnesses
California law outlines signature and witness rules that must be followed for the proxy to be valid. We guide clients through the signing process to ensure all formalities are observed and the document can be relied upon by hospitals and clinics. Proper witnessing prevents technical challenges to the document’s validity and helps ensure quick recognition of your agent’s authority. Clear instructions about where the original is stored and who holds copies further support effective use when the document is needed.
Providing Copies to Your Agent and Providers
After execution, distributing copies to your designated agent, your primary care provider, and close family members helps ensure the document is accessible during medical emergencies. We advise on best practices for sharing and storing copies, including noting the location of the original and whether a digital copy should be kept with secure health portals. Making sure the agent knows how to obtain records and reach medical teams improves readiness and reduces delays when decisions must be made quickly.
The Proof is in Our Performance
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Proxies in Wilmington
What is the difference between a healthcare proxy and a living will?
A healthcare proxy appoints an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so, while a living will records your specific treatment preferences, particularly about life-sustaining care. The proxy gives authority to a trusted person to interpret and apply your wishes, and the living will provides direct instructions that the agent and medical team can follow when applicable. Together, they create both a decision maker and a written guide to shape medical choices. Using both documents together provides both flexibility and clarity: the agent can make judgment calls in unforeseen situations while referring to your living will for specific directives. In practice, this pairing reduces ambiguity for medical providers and family members during high-pressure situations, making it more likely your preferences will be honored when you cannot speak for yourself.
Who can be appointed as my healthcare agent in California?
In California, you may appoint any adult you trust to act as your healthcare agent, including a family member or close friend, provided they are willing and able to carry out the responsibilities. It is wise to consider factors such as their ability to communicate under stress, proximity, and familiarity with your values. Naming backup agents can provide continuity if the primary agent is unavailable. Before finalizing the appointment, discuss your preferences and the scope of authority with the chosen person to ensure they understand and accept the role. Open conversation helps prevent surprises and enables the agent to prepare to advocate for your wishes effectively with medical professionals when necessary.
Can I update or revoke my healthcare proxy after signing it?
Yes, you can update or revoke your healthcare proxy at any time so long as you have the mental capacity to make those changes. Typically this involves signing a new proxy or a written revocation and notifying your previously appointed agent, healthcare providers, and family members. Keeping all parties informed helps prevent conflicts and confusion in urgent situations. It is good practice to replace older copies with a clearly dated new version and to confirm the agent and medical providers have the current document. Regular reviews after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or significant changes in health ensure the proxy remains aligned with your current wishes and circumstances.
Does a healthcare proxy cover financial decisions?
No, a healthcare proxy only covers medical decision-making authority and does not grant control over financial matters. Financial decisions require a separate legal document, typically a durable power of attorney for finances, which appoints someone to manage money, assets, bills, and other economic affairs. For comprehensive planning, many people pair a healthcare proxy with a financial power of attorney and a will or trust. This combination ensures both medical and financial matters are managed according to your wishes, reducing the need for court intervention and providing coordinated authority for different aspects of your life.
What happens if I do not have a healthcare proxy in place?
Without a healthcare proxy, family members may face legal obstacles when trying to make medical decisions on your behalf, which can result in delays and increased stress during emergencies. Absent a designated agent, hospitals may rely on default decision-making protocols or require court involvement to appoint a surrogate decision maker, which prolongs the process during critical moments. Having a signed proxy in place prevents ambiguity and gives a trusted person the authority to act quickly and in line with your preferences. This preparation helps avoid family disputes and ensures that medical staff know who is authorized to speak for you, streamlining communication and decision-making during urgent care situations.
Will a healthcare proxy created in California be recognized in other states?
Healthcare proxies signed in California are generally recognized in many other states, but laws and recognition standards can vary across jurisdictions. If you plan to travel or receive care outside of California, it is helpful to consult with legal counsel or confirm with the receiving state’s healthcare institutions whether additional formalities are advisable. When care is sought outside California, carrying a signed and witnessed copy of your healthcare proxy and any living will, along with contact information for your agent, increases the likelihood that providers will honor your directives. Advance planning and communication reduce uncertainty when seeking medical care across state lines.
What responsibilities does a healthcare agent have when acting on my behalf?
A healthcare agent is legally expected to act in accordance with your expressed wishes and documented instructions and to make decisions in your best interest when specific instructions are not available. The agent must be prepared to talk with medical providers, review treatment options, and consider how those options align with your values and prior directives. Clear communication with your agent about your preferences and any specific scenarios you anticipate helps guide their choices. Providing access to important documents and medical information enables the agent to make timely and informed decisions that reflect your priorities during critical moments.
How long does a healthcare proxy remain valid?
A healthcare proxy generally remains valid until you revoke it, execute a new one, or regain the capacity to make your own healthcare decisions. It can also be affected by changes in law or by circumstances such as the death of the agent or principal. Periodic review ensures the document continues to reflect current wishes and designations. Updating the proxy after major life changes and informing your agent and healthcare providers of any revisions helps maintain clarity. Keeping dated copies and a record of who has the current version reduces the risk of confusion when urgent decisions must be made.
Should I give my agent a copy of my medical records?
Providing your agent with relevant medical records and information about chronic conditions, medications, and prior treatments helps them make informed choices quickly. While full records may not always be necessary, a summary of key medical history and access instructions can be invaluable in urgent situations and supports the agent’s ability to communicate effectively with care teams. Be mindful of privacy and storage practices when sharing records. Let your agent know where to find important documents and how to access digital health portals. This preparation helps ensure that the agent can obtain the information they need to advocate for care consistent with your documented wishes.
How do I ensure my healthcare proxy is followed by hospitals and doctors?
To help ensure hospitals and doctors follow your healthcare proxy, execute the document according to California requirements and provide copies to your primary care physician, specialists, and any facility where you receive care. Clear documentation combined with direct communication with your medical providers increases the likelihood that your agent’s authority will be recognized when needed. Carrying a copy or keeping one accessible in a secure digital health account, and ensuring your agent and close family members know where to find it, further supports timely recognition. When medical staff have a properly signed proxy and supporting instructions, they can confidently engage the appointed agent to make care decisions in line with your wishes.