No one wants to have to consider how things will go when they are close to death. After all, this is the point beyond all control, when death can claim you at any moment. However, if you are leaving behind friends and family, then one of the greatest gifts you can provide to them is the gift of planning. End of life care is so important, and if you can have a process that goes your way, then your family members and friends can go through the grieving process with the need to make plans or important decisions. When you are drafting end of life care paperwork, there are five major considerations that must be undertaken.
Designate a healthcare surrogate: Your end of life paperwork should designate a healthcare surrogate. This is the person that will make health care decisions for any end of life care decisions that must be made. Make sure this person is responsible, as they will determine whether or not to continue care should you become detrimentally incapacitated.
Make plans financially for extensive care: Extended care at the end of your life can be expensive. Set aside funds throughout your life is possible to ensure that you can pay for any end of life care needs.
Organize all pertinent paperwork in one place: Any paperwork specific to end of life care should be place in one place. This information should be easily accessible and detail your wishes for care.
Let someone know about your paperwork: Talk with a trust family member or friend to go over what plans you’ve made for end of life care. Make sure they know what paperwork you’ve filled out and who your surrogate is in the event of a life threatening emergency.
Think of minute details: You might think of the big stuff easily, but it is the smaller details that can be overlooked and end up being most important. Decisions such as what hospital you want to be taken to in an end of life care situation, which doctors you want and things of that nature should be considered.
The more you can plan ahead, the easier you make things for those that love you most. Drafting end of life paperwork might not be the most pleasant task for you, but for your loved ones, it can be the difference between greater stress and worry or a completely normal grieving process
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If you are not sure as to what legal document you currently have contact one of our professionals to help you with your estate planning. They will make sure you have all of your grounds covered and have the right legal documents that best suite your wants and needs.
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