When James’s mother, Ellen, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, their family assumed they could make medical decisions for her as needed. They had heard about healthcare proxies before but figured they weren’t necessary. “We’ll just tell the doctors what she would have wanted,” James thought. But when Ellen could no longer communicate her wishes, the family found themselves in a heartbreaking situation. Disagreements arose over what kind of care she should receive. Her doctors couldn’t act without legal authority, and the family had no choice but to go through the court system to obtain guardianship. The emotional toll was overwhelming, and they wished they had taken steps earlier to legally document Ellen’s healthcare wishes. Many families find themselves in similar situations because they fall for common myths about healthcare proxies. Let’s set the record straight. Myth #1: “I Don’t Need a Healthcare Proxy Unless I’m Old or Sick” Accidents and medical
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