A durable power of attorney is a power of attorney that remains in effect even if the person who created it becomes incapacitated. That "durable" designation is what separates it from a standard power of attorney, which can actually end at the exact moment you need it most, when you're no longer able to make decisions yourself. It can apply to financial matters, healthcare decisions, or both, depending on how it's drafted. Most estate planning attorneys recommend the durable version by default, since it closes that gap and keeps your chosen agent in place through incapacity. It still ends at death, at which point an executor or trustee takes over instead.