Living Will: How Seniors Can Protect Their Healthcare Choices
Are you among the 34% of Americans with a living will? If you don't have one, you could leave loved ones at a loss when it comes to critical decisions regarding your healthcare. Especially for seniors in Glendale, Wisconsin, creating advance directives can ensure an easier road when you're not able to voice your preferences.
Don't put off this task any longer. Keep reading to discover how a living will can protect your healthcare choices!
What Is a Living Will?
A living will is a document that explains your medical treatment wishes in an end-of-life scenario when you are unable to explain them. Senior legal planning should always cover this as part of the process. Generally, a living will should indicate your:
- Treatment desires in life-threatening situations
- Pain management preferences
- Preferred proxy, such as an attorney or family member
For instance, you may not want procedures like CPR to be performed if your heart stops beating. This is a specification that is useful to spell out in your living will.
Additionally, you can address other specific procedures. If you don't want blood transfusions, for instance, or some surgeries, you can say that. You can offer guidance for medications, too, if the pain becomes unbearable and you would prefer not to live.
The resulting document will serve as a guide for medical professionals in Glendale or wherever you are. And it will help family members hoping to enact your wishes. If you find yourself in an emergency situation where time is fleeting, a living will is essential.
Know the Benefits
No one likes to think about end-of-life decisions. After all, going for a walk at Kletzsch Park or visiting with friends is more enjoyable than sitting down to create a legal document. But when you take the time to outline your healthcare priorities, you empower others to act in your best interest when you can't communicate your desires.
Setting aside time to plan for health emergencies can create an outcome with which you'll be more satisfied. With a living will, you'll be able to:
- Provide guidance if an unexpected health incident occurs
- Make sure your wishes are honored
- Direct the decisions of healthcare providers
- Give loved ones peace of mind
Maybe you're intent on donating organs to help scientific research or other individuals. Or you may want to donate your entire body to a particular medical school for study. Those are wishes you can write down in a living will.
Further, you can equip the person you trust most with healthcare power of attorney. That individual could be a relative or legal representative. Particularly when family members are involved, you may want to consult with a potential proxy in advance.
With a completed living will, you'll save your family and friends from the struggle of trying to know what you would want. When they can trust that you're receiving the level of care you want, they'll feel at peace.
Determine Your Priorities
When it comes to medical decision-making, you'll need to consider what matters most. Depending on your age or current health situation, your perspective can shift. Before putting together a living will, consider questions like:
- How long do I want to be hooked up to life-saving equipment?
- If a cure does not exist, do I want medical intervention?
- What scenarios would make me stop or continue treatment?
- Who should speak on my behalf?
Ultimately, you should let your personal values hold the most weight as you ponder medical decisions in emergency or end-of-life situations. There may be scenarios where your quality of life may make the effort to sustain it seem unnecessary. Or, perhaps you may not want to put family members and friends through continued stress.
In a living will, you can communicate how long you would be willing to undergo dialysis or ventilations, for example. These are medical interventions that can be ongoing. As a result, you may not want to invest the time or emotional sacrifice if a positive outcome is unlikely.
Living wills can hold information about memory care, hospice, and other treatment programs in Glendale, as well. Use them to share what level of care you expect or do not want.
At any age in life, it's vital to know your priorities regarding your health. And don't be afraid to state your wishes clearly, even if you think others would disagree with them.
Get Help with the Process
Seeking assistance with senior legal planning in the Milwaukee area is wise, given the complexities and emotional considerations embedded in crafting a living will. You should:
- Write down your biggest goals in creating a living will
- Talk with trusted individuals for guidance
- Get legal assistance in Glendale
A skilled attorney will know about local and national regulations for living wills. Every state has different requirements, and if you move, you'll want an attorney to confirm that an existing living will meets your new state's requirements.
Knowledgeable attorneys in Glendale, Wisconsin, also know how to navigate potential scenarios that could impact decisions. For instance, you may need a proxy to intervene on your behalf if you need care in another state. An attorney can show you if and how living wills can be honored from one state to the next.
When you've completed your document, create multiple copies of it. Provide one to a primary medical provider and family member. And keep one in your wallet that can be accessed in any location.
Also, know that you can update a living will. As your life situation evolves, it may become important to make adjustments to your will. A new spouse or medical concern, for example, could impact your plans.
Improve Your Medical Decision-Making
A living will can establish clear directives for critical health decisions you face. You'll help loved ones and medical providers by mapping out your healthcare preferences. Just be sure to have a copy of your living will accessible, or tell trusted friends and family members where they can find it.
At Discovery Commons North Shore, we have the Glendale area's best-assisted living and memory care community and a skilled, committed team. With chef-prepared dining, robust cultural and fitness activities, and 24/7 help, you can rest assured that you'll be able to thrive. Contact us today to learn more!