Colorado CNA Practice Exam 2025 - Free CNA Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer is the durable power of attorney for health care. This document specifically designates an individual, often referred to as a healthcare proxy or agent, to make medical decisions for someone who is unable to do so themselves due to illness, incapacitation, or a medical emergency. By establishing this authority, the individual can ensure that their healthcare preferences and values are respected, even if they cannot communicate them at the time.

An advance directive is a broader term that encompasses various legal documents that express a person's wishes regarding medical treatment, including the durable power of attorney for health care. While a living will outlines specific medical treatment preferences in scenarios where the individual is unable to communicate, it does not appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf. A welfare agreement does not carry the same legal weight as the other documents mentioned and is generally not recognized in the medical context for appointing decision-makers regarding health care.