UPMC Resources for Life Q & A Corner

Question:

I was in the hospital recently and a social worker told me that it would be a good idea for me to appoint a health care power of attorney and to update my will. I have three children and don’t know whom to choose as my power of attorney. How do I decide whom to select as my health care power of attorney?

Answer:

No matter what your age, it is always a good idea to have an updated will and a health care power of attorney. If something should happen to you and you are unable to speak for yourself, you want your health care power of attorney to be someone who will follow your wishes. It’s a good idea to get all of your children together to discuss this issue openly and to make sure that there are no surprises down the road. This is a good opportunity to consider what you would prefer in terms of end-of-life care as well as to make your wishes clear to your children. Choose the person that you trust and who you think will uphold your wishes even if they may disagree with them. The person you choose needs to be willing and able to take on this responsibility. Also make sure you have a backup selected in case the primary person is unable to act as your power of attorney for any reason.

As a member of UPMC for Life, you are eligible for a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney in your area that specializes in elder law or estate planning. You can arrange for this consultation to take place over the phone or in person. If you should decide to use this attorney, you will get 25% off his or her services.

UPMC Resources for Life is designed to help you meet the challenges of everyday living, just by calling your Health Care Concierge. Your Health Care Concierge will connect you to a professional UPMC Resources for Life specialist. UPMC Resources for Life offers short-term counseling by phone for personal and emotional concerns, including stress, depression, and family matters.

To access UPMC Resources for Life, call Member Services or your Health Care Concierge toll-free at 1-877-539-3080, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY/TDD users should call 1-800-361-2629.

The content in this newsletter is not intended to provide specific medical advice, and members should contact their physician with questions about specific conditions and/or treatment. Not all benefits mentioned in this newsletter will necessarily be available to all members. Members should review their specific plan information to find out which benefits apply to them.

Member Services: 1-877-539-3080
TTY Users: 1-800-361-2629