{"id":680,"date":"2025-02-24T15:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T15:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/powerof\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T15:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T15:21:10","slug":"powerof","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/powerof\/","title":{"rendered":"powerof ~  What is a power of attorney for health care?  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n  \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/powerof.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->What is a power of attorney for health care?<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dsaapd\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/agency.html\">About DSAAPD<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/contact.html\">Contact Information<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/faq.html\">FAQs<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/links.html\">Useful Links<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">  \n         <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/aps.html\">Adult Protective Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/services.html\">All Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/caregivers_assistance.html\">Assistance for Caregivers<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/home_communitybased_services.html\">Home and Community-Based Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/information_support.html\">Information and Supports<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/residential_care.html\">Residential Care<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/rights_protections.html\">Rights and Protections<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n      \n       <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/abuseneglectandexploitation.html\">Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n            \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/advance.html\">Advance Directives<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/alzheimers_toolkit.html\">Alzheimer&#8217;s Toolkit <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/headinj.html\">Brain Injury and Coma<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/caregive.html\">Caregiver Information<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/demogr.html\">Demographic Information<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/emergencyprep.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/health.html\">Health and Wellness<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/espanol.html\">Informaci\u00f3n en Espa\u00f1ol <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/professi.html\">Information for Professionals<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/laws_and_regulations.html\">Laws and Regulations<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/medicare_fraud.html\"> Medicare Fraud <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/publica.html\">Publications and Forms<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/state_ltc_facilities.html\">State-Run Long Term Care Facilities <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsaapd\/volopp.html\">Volunteer Opportunities<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n<!--    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n  <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n    <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/li>  -->\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"advance1.html\">Delaware&#8217;s Advance Health Care Directive Form<\/a> allows you to name another individual as an &#8220;agent&#8221; to make health care decisions for you if you become incapable of making your own decisions.\u00a0 It also enables you to name an alternate agent to act for you if your first choice is not willing, able, or reasonably available to make decisions for you. This part of the form is a Power of Attorney for Health Care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>An agent may not be an operator or employee of a residential long-term health care facility at which you are receiving care, unless that person is related to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>An agent&#8217;s authority becomes effective if your attending physician determines that you lack the capacity to make your own health care decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The agent&#8217;s obligation is to make health care decisions for you in accordance with the instructions you have given in your advance directive and any other wishes, to the extent that they are known. To the extent that wishes are unknown, health care decisions made by an agent are to conform as closely as possible with what that agent determines you would have done or intended under the circumstances.\u00a0 In these situations, the agent will take into account what the he or she determines to be in your best interest, and will consider your personal values to the extent that they are known by the agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you are not in a terminal condition or in a permanently unconscious state<\/em>, your agent may make all health care decisions for you except for decisions to provide, withhold or withdraw a life sustaining procedure. Unless you limit the agent&#8217;s authority, he or she\u00a0 may consent or refuse any care treatment, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or otherwise affect a physical or mental condition (unless it is a life-sustaining procedure or otherwise required by law).\u00a0An agent can also select or discharge health care providers and health care institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you are in a terminal condition or in a permanently unconscious state,<\/em> your agent may make all health care decisions for you, including consent for or refusal of life-sustaining procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.\u00a0He or she can also direct the providing, withholding or withdrawing of artificial nutrition, hydration, and all other forms of health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Power of Attorney for Health Care vs. Durable Power of Attorney<\/strong><br>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\nIn Delaware,\u00a0a\u00a0Power of Attorney for Health Care is different than a Durable Power of Attorney.<br>\n\n\n\nA Power of Attorney for\u00a0Health Care relates to health care decisions, while a Durable Power of Attorney relates to financial matters.<br>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\nTo establish a\u00a0 Power of Attorney for Health Care,\u00a0fill out a <a href=\"advance1.html\">Delaware Advance Directive Form<\/a>.<br>\n\n\n\nTo establish a Durable Power of Attorney, fill out a <a href=\"\/dhcq\/poa.html\">Delaware Durable Power of Attorney Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen What is a power of attorney for health care? Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities Menu Home About About DSAAPD Contact Information FAQs Useful Links Services Adult Protective Services All Services Assistance for Caregivers Home and Community-Based Services Information and Supports Residential Care Rights and Protections Information Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Advance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-680","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=680"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/680\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsaapd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}