Talk about health care wishes while you are still healthy
National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.
Tanya Tober, Social Services Director for The Lutheran Home: River Falls, assists residents with financial and health care planning and community resources. She says there are many things people can do and put in place to ensure their needs and wishes are met before they enter a skilled nursing home or have an illness that requires assistance.
“These are important things to discuss with loved ones and put in place while you are still able to express your wishes. Often, we find people have a hard time with this discussion and delay the discussion until they are in crisis or are no longer able to make their own decisions,” Tanya said. “It is a tough thing to think and talk about but it is important for everyone to discuss.”
Following the discussion, take the next step and make a written record: State your health care wishes through a living will and health care power of attorney. A living will outlines your preferences about lifesaving medical treatments if you are terminally ill. Combine this with a durable power of attorney for health care to appoint someone to make your medical decisions if you cannot make them yourself.
All estate planning documents are very important but perhaps the easiest to prepare are the living will and the health care power of attorney, notes Andrew Pevonka, CLU, CLTC, CFRM, of The Lutheran Home Association. For a form specific to your state, visit www.powerofattorney.com or check with your local department of health or Board on Aging.
“These forms are very easy to prepare on your own at little or no cost, and our team at TLHA is happy to assist you,” Andrew said. “Some individuals may alternatively decide to consult an attorney. The important thing is to get something in place and it is truly very easy to do.”
While you’re planning, there are two other important documents to consider that address your financial future and help protect your loved ones.
- Will
At your death, a will serves as a road map telling your executor how to distribute your assets to other people or to charitable organizations. Without a will, you are powerless as to how your assets will be distributed. By creating a will, you can dictate the following:
An executor. You choose this key individual who oversees the process of settling your estate.
You can determine which family members or loved ones will receive the assets in your estate. Don’t forget to include the charitable organizations you care about.
- Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney allows someone to conduct financial matters on your behalf while you are living, such as signing documents, purchasing or selling assets, or making bank transactions. This document remains in effect even if you become incapacitated or disabled. The power ends, however, at your death.
If you’d like help planning for the future, the Office of Mission Advancement team is prepared to assist you. Contact us today!
The preceding information is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. © The Stelter Company