Module 5
Documents, Decisions and Authority
Unclear authority creates major problems — especially in a crisis
Many family carers discover too late that being the nearest relative does not automatically mean having legal authority. Medical staff, financial institutions, and care providers all have their own rules about who they can speak to and act upon instruction from.
Authority must be established, not assumed
If the person being cared for still has full capacity to make decisions, now is the time to get the right documents in place. If capacity has already changed, the options are more limited and the process more complex. Do not wait.
What to organise and confirm
Health decision authority
Who is authorised to speak to medical teams, access records, and make treatment decisions if the person cannot?
Financial authority
Who can manage bank accounts, pay bills, access pensions, and make financial decisions?
Legal documents
Are the relevant legal arrangements in place — or do they need to be established while the person still has capacity?
Care preferences
Has the person expressed their wishes about care, living arrangements, medical treatment, and end of life? Are those wishes documented?
Organised records and access
Is there one place where critical documents, account details, passwords, and contacts are stored and accessible to the right people?
Emergency readiness
In an emergency, can the right information be found quickly? Does the right person have access?
Questions to think through
- Does the current carer have the legal authority they need, or are they acting informally?
- Are the relevant authority documents in place, and are they the right ones for the situation?
- Where are the key documents physically located, and who knows where they are?
- Has the person expressed their care preferences in a way that is documented and accessible?
- What would happen if the primary carer became incapacitated — could someone else step in immediately?
Supporting worksheets
Important Documents and Paperwork
DocumentsA reference sheet for tracking the location of key documents — legal, financial, medical, and personal — and who has access.