Across America, one of the biggest concerns we have as individuals is how to prepare for the latter years of our lives. According to Pfizer, studies show that roughly 87% of American adults have a fear of declining as we age.
When it comes to spending our golden years, Ridgeland is one of the best locales in Mississippi to relax. The historic city is full of parks, outdoor attractions, and beautiful forests to surround yourself with the splendor of our world as you plan.
If you’re concerned about end of life decisions, we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about estate planning for seniors, advance care planning, and more.
Making End of Life Decisions
Your first step is to make the decisions that matter most. We won’t sugar coat this: it’s naturally intimidating to ever view things as end of life decisions.
But while this is an intimidating time, it’s also a beautiful one full of opportunity. You have the chance to arrange things so that you can live out your years in greater comfort and with less anxiety. With the big choices handled, your focus can be entirely on the beauty around you.
With that said, what sort of decisions are there to make? Here are some of the most important things you’ll want to take care of.
Understanding Advance Care Planning
One term you’ll often see is advance care planning. But what does this mean, and how does it affect you?
According to the National Institute on Aging, advance care planning refers to the process of reflecting, discussing, and understanding your end of life decisions. In essence, you’re already in the process of this! Advance care planning can include:
- Setting your financial future in stone
- Creating and communicating a will
- Understanding your current medical condition and how this may change
This preparation is what will help you handle situations as they occur. In these situations, it’s often best to hope for the best but plan for the worst. That way, you have a plan for whatever may happen.
Creating an Advance Directive
To start, what is an advance directive? Since it’s another term you’ll frequently see in this topic, it’s important to make sure we understand it.
Advance directives serve as legal documents. These are used to outline a person’s healthcare preference in case they lose the ability to decide for themselves. If someone expects to not be able to make decisions autonomously, an advance directive is critical.
These guides give medical professionals and family members how to proceed with treatment. That way, you’re certain that your loved ones will follow your wishes even when you can’t communicate them.
Two common forms of advance directive include a living will and durable powers of attorney for healthcare. These are legal situations that you’ll want to take care of as soon as possible so there are fewer issues as the years move on.
An advance directive may communicate your desire to not be kept alive if your condition renders you unable to act. Some faiths also find certain medical procedures unacceptable, which you can communicate in your advance directive.
What is a Living Will?
A living will outlines medical treatments a senior does or does not want. These may include your preferences on the following:
- Ventilation
- Tube feeding
- Resuscitation
- Palliative care
- End-of-life care
These decisions are made ahead of time to spare your family the strain of having to decide themselves. If you choose to refuse resuscitation, your family’s grief is lessened, knowing that it was what you truly wanted. If they’re forced to make that decision themselves, they may carry grief for much longer as a result.
Durable Power of Attorney
Another topic here is living will vs healthcare proxy. What’s the difference, and why would it affect you?
According to the Human Rights Campaign, a healthcare proxy is a representative who can make these choices for you. They may be a legal representative or a loved one who you’ve empowered to speak on your behalf. In many cases, a living will will include a healthcare proxy.
You may also see this referred to as the Durable Power of Attorney. One would use this system to designate their healthcare proxy.
Planning and Updating
You shouldn’t wait to make these decisions no matter what situation you’re in. The sooner you’ve handled these issues, the sooner you can return to enjoying your years. But more importantly, starting early gives you time to fully plan and keep your plans updated.
We urge you not to see your advance directives as “written in stone.” As your health evolves, your preferences may change.
Such a thing is common with seniors battling dementia, as they find that experiencing their condition may change their preferences. The sudden appearance of other health conditions may also change your preferences.
You also may find that you’ve named a healthcare proxy you no longer wish to name. Perhaps you’ve separated from them, or perhaps they’re also no longer in a condition to make these decisions. Whatever the reason, you may need to name another as time goes on.
Countless issues could evolve, so take the time to understand your choices and how they may shift. You should revisit your advance directives under the advice of medical professionals or while discussing them with your loved ones.
If you do update your work, make sure that you communicate these changes with your loved ones. That way, there’s no miscommunication when the documents become necessary.
Understanding Advance Care Planning
Making end of life decisions is a daunting and intimidating prospect, but one that you’ll need to tackle. Understanding estate planning for seniors and medical power of attorney will help you make your senior healthcare choices.
At SummerHouse Beau Ridge, we understand that these choices cause strain and are dedicated to reducing that strain as much as possible. Our strong connections to our local community will help you feel right at home. Contact us today to see how we can help you manage your senior years.
