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Entry bubble Living Wills

By: Joanne | September 30, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

legal documentMy mom likes to have her affairs in order and recently she updated her advance directive (they’re also called living wills). She showed it to me so I know what her wishes are in case she’s ever in a medical situation where my brother and I have to make decisions for her. It’s hard to imagine someone you love in a condition where they can’t make their own decisions, but even harder to imagine it happening to you. But let’s face it – this stuff happens. That’s why I’m learning about what I need to do to create my own advance directive.

An advance directive, or living will, is different than a will. It’s intended to make your wishes known about what type of life-sustaining medical treatment you want (or don’t want) in case you’re in a situation where medical intervention is needed to sustain your life. This document sets out who is authorized to make decisions for you and helps medical providers understand the kind of treatment you want and can also make clear your wishes to donate your organs and tissues when you die.

I’m still sorting all this out and I suppose I’ll have to consult a lawyer to be sure that my document will be adequate to covers all of my needs and make it a little easier on my loved ones in case I’m in trouble. Have you had experience creating or carrying out an advanced directive? Any advice?

| View Comments [9] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: advance   directive   joanne   living   will  

Comments (9):

blue comment bubble Posted by Bob Shirilla on September 30, 2008 at 07:46 AM EDT

Joanne

I just read this story before looking at your post - Pleas share with your reader.

http://dailystrength.org/people/135992/journal/1294994

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blue comment bubble Posted by Fred D on September 30, 2008 at 07:47 AM EDT

I suggest listing more than one person as the "decision maker", in the event that for whatever reason, that one person is not available.
In my living will, I listed three people that I trust implicitly, to make the decision, if necessary. Any one of these people can make the decision independently, if and when necessary.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Joanne on September 30, 2008 at 09:40 AM EDT

What a beautiful story, Bob. Everybody, it only takes a few minutes to read it - one of those stories that reminds you what kind of things are really important in life.
thanks -

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blue comment bubble Posted by Joanne on September 30, 2008 at 09:42 AM EDT

Fred - having more than one person authorized to act for you is a great idea. You never know if one person will be unavailable.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Sue on September 30, 2008 at 10:35 PM EDT

Don't forget to speak with the person/s you will be naming in your living will. These decisions can be especially difficult for parents and their children, but an honest disucssion with your loved ones helps them understand the content of your living will. At the age of 43 I was forced to have this discussion with my husband and young adult children just prior to undergoing brain surgery. The completion of the living will gave us all an opportunity to discuss the many fears that we are were harboring but had not previously shared. I encourage all to take the time to have this important family discussion.

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blue comment bubble Posted by HILLARDMH on October 01, 2008 at 01:02 PM EDT

BE CAREFUL WHEN DESIGNATING MORE THAN ONE PERSON - MAKE SURE THAT THE DESIGNATION DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT THEY ALL AGREE TO AVOID POTENTIAL PROBLEMS; E.G. DESIGANTE ONE AND IN THE EVENT THAT PERSON IS NOT AVAILABLE THAN HAVE A SECOND

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blue comment bubble Posted by Bado on October 02, 2008 at 03:56 PM EDT

Hi - Check out the National Association of Legal Document Preparers. They are not lawyers but they help people fill out forms for living wills, trusts, no-content divorce, etc.
http://naldp.com/

Bottom line, everyone should have a living will at minimum. Nobody likes planning for the future but this one little document will prevent a million headaches.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Barb on October 02, 2008 at 05:51 PM EDT

I would recommend the following website: fivewishes.org

They put it in language that ordinary people can understand.

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blue comment bubble Posted by kmilne@projectgrace.org on October 15, 2008 at 10:55 AM EDT

Dear Joanne, Project GRACE is a non profit organization that advocates for effective advance care planning, using clear and precise language. All our documents and services are provided free of charge. Our document, in one page, combines the living will, healthcare surrogate choice and alternate surrogate choice. In Florida, you do not need this legal document notarized. Please check with you state to see if notarization is required. Please call one of our trained facilitators with any questions you may have. Our web-site is www.projectgrace.org.

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