Future-proofing your care against the unexpected in life is a message health providers around the country are promoting.
But for Jenny Fowler, a strategic adviser for aged care and rehabilitation, a lack of this sort of planning is something she and her team come across "almost every day".
Mrs Fowler, who works with the Whanganui District Health Board, says people will often use a lawyer to arrange for their family should they die "but this is not just about your finances rather than your welfare".
"If you can't make a decision for yourself because of a stroke, an accident or dementia, it's important to have someone having enduring power of attorney to make those decisions for you," she says.
Health professionals call it advance care planning (ACP) and district health boards around the country have it in their annual plans or are working it into those plans.
Mrs Fowler says ACP overcomes grief for a lot of people when something starts to change in the lives of a loved one.
"You could have Dad over here and he's not coping. Another family member could be saying he needs to go into a home, but another family member saying he can be okay in his own home. You end up with these massive and unnecessary disputes over one person's welfare.
"But if the father had the power of attorney already appointed then all this angst doesn't happen," she says.
Advanced care planning is not new. It was first introduced in the 1980s but has gained momentum in New Zealand only in recent years.
It assists with the provision of quality health care and treatment and is becoming increasingly important, particularly with the increasing range of medical treatment options available and an ageing population.
However, ACP covers a much broader spectrum than just the elderly. It could be someone quite young facing a chronic or terminal illness yet they need to be thinking about what treatment they want and what follow-on care.
Their "plan" could involve health-care professionals and would encompass their wants for future care and where they want to be.
Mrs Fowler says people need to think ahead and whether that home is going to suit their needs, or if they should be thinking about other housing options.
This should include looking at whether their home is two-storeyed and the problems that could bring in later life if they suffered from arthritis.
She says the next step for the health boards is to get local GPs and others in primary health on board.
"It's about GPs getting people talking about their own plans, what should be included and what it should cover," she says.
As well as a website (www.advancecareplanning.org.nz), brochures about ACP are available.
"It's really about people planning for their life ahead so their journey is made easier for them as well as those that care about them.
"This is all about communication. Think of what problems arise if someone doesn't make a will," Mrs Fowler says.
"You can always change what you have planned. Nothing is set in concrete but it's important that this is talked about so people know what they want."
She says clinicians have long been having discussions about long-term care with their patients but have not always had the tools or systems to support them "so now we're looking at advanced care information books that the GPs can use with the patients".
Mrs Fowler says that, during her career, particularly working as social worker, she often saw a lot of grief among the family because there was confusion over what the mother, father or spouse wanted.
"If they had some of those conversations with their GP or nurse and families away from a crisis, then it would make it so much easier for everyone," Mrs Fowler says.
"This like being a good boy scout, being prepared and having control of your future.
"You've got to remember these sorts of events happen at any time of life and not just to those suffering from dementia or in old age. It's all age groups," she says.