Medical professionals who are familiar with the future planning process can provide guidance to patients with I/DD and patients who are parents of people with I/DD. Familiarity with the planning process can be helpful in a number of situations, including:

• You can talk with patients with I/DD about their vision for the future.
• You can provide guidance on the type of documentation your practice accepts (such as health care powers of attorney) from patients with I/DD who have support in making healthcare decisions but who are not under guardianship. Learn more about supporting daily and major life decisions.
• You may be faced with a situation where a patient with I/DD or an aging parent has an urgent need for support. Learn more about what to do in the case of an urgent need.
• Aging patients may talk to you about their concerns for no longer being able to provide support for their adult son or daughter with I/DD. You may consider providing your patients with future planning resources and discussing with them the comfort that having a plan in place will provide.

Contact a chapter of The Arc or a state I/DD agency for more information on how to help the person through this transition. Please note that chapters of The Arc vary in size and in the services they provide. If you need further assistance, please contact The Arc’s national office through our online form or by phone at 800-433-5255.