To The Editor:
Everyone should have a statutory will or health care proxy and declaration appointing someone to be in charge of medical and health decision-making if a person is unable to do so themselves. Everyone should have a power of attorney given to someone who can act on their behalf in financial and other nonmedical matters. These are documents that should be available during any adult’s lifetime and which can be given (photocopies allowed) to providers as needed. It also is important to have a will or a will and living trust in place so affairs can be dealt with in an orderly fashion. People should do these things in the best of times and at all times (if they haven’t done it already). I am a lawyer licensed only in New York so I cannot help with Vermont procedures. I recommend you contact a Vermont lawyer. There are Vermont forms online for some of the documents necessary to delegate decision-making, in case you cannot do so.
Thanks, hope all is good with and for you.
Carolyn Heft
Waitsfield
