October 2021
No one can know what the future holds but having a plan in place for the what-ifs is an important step in long-term care planning. There are many options for ensuring family members and medical professionals are aware of your wishes. Advance directives Decisions about long-term care are best made ahead of time and you should consider your options earlier rather than later. One way to record your choices is with an advance directive, a legal document that provides details regarding how you want to receive care in the event you become incapacitated by a serious illness or disability. Living wills An advance directive is a broad category of healthcare instructions that includes many types of documents. One such document is a living will, which is specifically used in cases of a terminal illness. It outlines your wishes for end-of-life care in the event you are unable to make medical decisions. It can include religious preferences, as well as the duration of time you want to be on life support. Medical powers of attorney If you want to designate a loved one or another individual as the decision-maker for your healthcare needs, you may consider completing a medical power of attorney. This document is another type of advance directive. It allows you to choose an agent to make medical decisions for you if you are unable. These examples have slight variations, making each suitable in different situations. If you wish, you can also use them in combination with each other to create a long-term care plan that suits your unique needs.
With no warning at all, unexpected illnesses or injuries may leave people incapacitated and in need of life-saving treatment or end-of-life care. Through advance care planning, however, people express their wishes, even when they cannot use their voices. Legal documents, living wills allow people to specify their preferences on the types of treatments they would and would not want in life-threatening situations. If dying or permanently unconscious and unable to speak for themselves, people’s living wills take effect and guide their health care teams. Considering the possible decisions According to MayoClinic.org, in creating living wills , people should consider a number of factors and possible decisions. In these documents, people will dictate their decisions for receiving various types of treatment, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, tube feeding, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and antibiotics or antiviral medications. They also indicate the circumstances in which they would or would not want such treatments. To help make their choices, people ought to think about their values. They may take into account things such as their thoughts and feelings on living and dying. Would they want doctors to keep them alive at all costs? Would they prefer to not receive certain care if they have no chance of recovering? Talking to their doctors may also help people determine their preferences to include in living wills. Notifying others of a living will According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, after establishing advance directives such as living wills, people should notify others. They should tell close family members and friends where they have a copy, as well as give copies to their health care proxies if they name representatives. Additionally, people may find it helpful to give copies of their living wills to their physicians to keep in their medical records. No one wants to burden their families should they become unexpectedly ill or injured. However, having to make decisions for them without knowing their preferences may prove a heavy and challenging task. Through a living will, people may lift this weight from their loved ones and ensure their wishes get carried out.
Knowing that if something happens to you, your children have loving and committed people to parent them can bring you peace of mind. Finding people who are the right fit to take on such a serious responsibility can cause some angst. When you know some strategies for naming guardians, you may feel more confident about your ability to make the right selection. Family dynamic and values While you may want grandparents to step in if you become incapacitated, this decision may not have the most optimal outcome depending on the ages of your parents. Similarly, according to U.S. News, you cannot expect godparents to legally assume guardianship unless you have specifically requested this in a formal legal document. One option to consider is to ask close family friends to assume guardianship. Often, you will form relationships with like-minded parents whose family dynamics and values mirror those of your own family. Knowing that your children will most likely already have a relationship with their guardians can also bring you comfort and reassurance. Flexibility and alternatives Changes to your children’s needs, a move across state lines, or even a breakdown in the relationship you have with the people you named as guardians, are all reasons you may need to modify your decision. When you name guardians, add enough flexibility so that you can modify your decision as needed. You should also name a backup guardian for added security. Prior to naming a guardian, verify the person’s willingness and ability to provide for the needs of your children. With provisions in place, you may feel less concerned about the well-being of your children in an emergency situation.
