Do You Have a Living Will or Advanced Health Directive?
One of the things we humans have no control over is when we depart from this earthly plane. We never know if we will live healthily to a ripe old age or if we will meet with an accident or illness that will take our life or put us in a coma or vegetative state. We simply don’t know. But a living will or advanced health directive, put in place before it’s needed, can give you peace of mind should that happen.
A Living Will or Advanced Health Directive Lets You Take Control Of Your Life When And Where You Can
While we don’t have control over what is likely to take us out of commission, we do have a bit of control over a few things related to whether or not we want to be kept alive if we do meet with an accident or other circumstance in which decision-making processes are no longer available. You can decide, while you are alive and of sound mind, whether you want to be kept alive or not should you meet with a tragic accident or illness.
Without a Living Will, Decisions Will Be Made By Medical Establishment If You Don’t Make Them For Yourself
One of the services I provide my clients is that of creating a living will. A living will is a legal document that provides you and your family members with peace of mind, knowing that your medical care wishes at the end of life are clearly communicated. Medical professionals and establishments are ethically and legally bound to do everything they can to keep you alive unless you have a legal document in place that instructs them otherwise. This is where a living will clearly communicates your life or death wishes.
Remove The Burden From Your Family By Making Your Wishes Known And Legal
Whether a living will is ever necessary in your life or not, you can only make this kind of decision while you are capable and clearly in your right mind. It cannot be made if you are incapacitated. Your living will, also called an Advance Medical Directive, will describe to your health care providers, the procedures of treatment that you desire. It also allows you to designate a person you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf should you be incapacitated or be in a vegetative state.
When you have a living will, your loved ones will be certain of what your end of life wishes are and have the legal platform upon which to stand in order ensure that your specific wishes are carried out. Having a living will relieves your loved ones of the burden and stress caused by not knowing your wishes or having to look to strangers or to the court to make your life or death decisions.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Planning for the future requires planning for the best-and-worst-case scenarios. Hopefully you’ll never need to make use of your living will, but if you do, you’ll have it in place if you plan today. Contact us today to begin the process that equips you and your loved ones to face whatever tomorrow brings with confidence.