5 Essential End of Life Documents for Seniors

1. Last will and testament

A last will and testament, also known as a will, is a document that states your older adult’s last wishes regarding their estate after they die.

Generally, a will should include the following items:

Executor – A personal representative, be it a person or institution, that sees to it that wishes are carried out as specified in the will.
Beneficiaries – The person or people who will receive their property.
Personal properties – Assets they may want to divide between beneficiaries.
Business assets – Business assets are typically distributed separately from personal property, so specifying to whom and how business interests are to be divided is essential.
Debts, expenses, and taxes – Final expenses should be addressed as well. For instance, how will the funeral be financed, or how is inheritance and estate tax to be handled?
Special instructions – If there are special instructions, like how their home is to be cared for, or arranging a caretaker for their pet, it should be included.

If they have a complicated financial situation, like property in other states or a substantial estate, then they will want to be as specific as possible when writing their will. Otherwise, the probate court will determine how and to whom their property is divided out and will collect court costs directly from the estate.

2. Power of Attorney

A power of attorney (POA) authorizes another person the right to act on your older adult’s behalf in legal, personal, medical, or business matters.

There are different degrees of power that can be granted, which must be determined by your older adult.

Here are four types of power of attorney to be aware of:

General Power of Attorney gives the agent (the appointed person) the power to sign documents, pay bills, and make financial transactions on your older adult’s behalf. This POA terminates when they die.
Limited Power of Attorney has a very specific purpose, such as giving the agent the power to represent and act for your older adult on a specific day and time.

After the agent has fulfilled their purpose, the POA terminates.

Healthcare Power of Attorney comes into effect once your older adult is considered legally incapacitated by their doctor or they are no longer able to make medical decisions on their own. A healthcare POA specifically allows the agent to make medical decisions on your older adult’s behalf.
Durable Power of Attorney come into effect when your older adult is incapacitated.

The extent of power the agent has must be specified in the document beforehand, but usually allows them to make financial and/or medical decisions

3. Advanced healthcare directives / living wills

Advanced healthcare directives (also called living wills) are instructions provided by your older adult. They specify how they would like to be cared for when they are no longer able to make decisions themselves.

These documents typically state wishes regarding treatments like life support or pain medication. Family, hired caregivers, and doctors use it as a guide for care decisions.

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4. HIPAA waiver of authorization

A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) waiver of authorization is a legal document stating that protected health information (PHI) can be shared between third parties outside of your older adult’s healthcare provider.

That can include doctors, caregivers, attorneys, researchers, or family members.

Without this document, your older adult’s appointed health care proxy (the agent that holds the healthcare POA) may not be allowed to freely discuss matters regarding PHI or other medical conditions with a physician or caregiver.

5. Authorized user on investment and bank accounts

Lastly, it’s wise for your older adult to authorize a trusted person to have access to their accounts. Otherwise, if they become incapacitated or pass away suddenly, it will become very complicated to gain access to those accounts. This is especially important if family or loved ones are dependent on them for financial support. By granting someone access to these accounts, your older adult can ensure that those people will be taken care of.