Earlier this year, I was asked to speak on the decisions a health care proxy may make on your behalf. I’ve written several times about legal documents and selecting an executor and agent. While researching for the presentation, I came across valuable information on the American Bar Association website.

The decisions a health care proxy will make on your behalf:

• Choices about medical care, including medical tests, medicine or surgery;

• The right to request or decline life-support treatments such as medical devices to aid breathing, medical devices to provide food and water, CPR, blood transfusions, dialysis and antibiotics;

• Choices about pain management, including authorization or refusal of medication or procedures;

• Admission to an assisted living facility, hospital, hospice or nursing home;

• Choices about where to seek medical treatment, including the right to move you to another facility, hospital or state;

• The right to see and approve release of your medical records;

• The option to take legal action on your behalf to advocate for your health care rights and wishes;

• The right to apply for Medicare, Medicaid, or other programs or insurance benefits on your behalf.

Good planning for health care decisions is, in reality, a continuing conversation about values, priorities, the meaning of one’s life and quality of life. When making a health care advance directive like a durable power of attorney for health care, be aware that just having a written advance directive by itself does not ensure that your wishes will be understood and respected.

There are several key points in choosing an ideal health care proxy, and it begins with talking about your wishes and finding out if the person will follow them. These questions will help you assess and choose the best health care proxy.

• Will this person speak for you in case you cannot?

• Act on your wishes and separate their feelings from yours?

• Live close by or could travel to be with you?

• Knows you well and understands what you want?

• Is someone you trust with your life?

• Will talk with you about sensitive issues?

• Will be available long-term?

• Able to handle conflicting opinions between family, friends and medical team?

• Can be a strong advocate in the face of an unresponsive doctor or institution?

This guide will help you do a much better job of discovering, clarifying and communicating what is important to you in the face of serious illness. Remember once you know exactly how you want to be treated if you should become incapacitated, write it down and let you health care proxy, family and friends know.

Carol Marak is an aging advocate and editor at Seniorcare.com.