Why Every Senior Should Have a Living Will

A living will is an essential document for seniors, helping ensure that healthcare wishes are honored in the event of a serious illness or injury. Despite this, fewer and fewer older Americans are putting together any will at all.

It's a critical part of senior legal documents and provides peace of mind knowing that your desires regarding medical treatment will be followed.

If you or a loved one in Burlington, NJ, is considering care options, creating a living will is an important step in senior care planning. This article will explain what a living will cover, why it's important, and how to create one.

What is a Living Will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment if you become unable to communicate those wishes yourself. It allows you to specify your choices for end-of-life care, organ donation, and other healthcare decisions, ensuring your wishes are respected.

Unlike a last will and testament, which deals with property and estate planning after death, a living will focuses on medical care while you're still alive but unable to make decisions. This can help prevent confusion or disagreements among family members about your care and avoid unwanted treatments.

Why a Living Will is Essential

Having a living will in place is essential for seniors to ensure that their medical wishes are followed. A living will ensures that healthcare providers and loved ones know exactly what kind of medical care you would want in certain situations.

As we age, the likelihood of health issues that require serious medical decisions increases. A living will gives you control over these situations, especially when you're unable to speak for yourself. Without this document, family members may be left to make difficult decisions without knowing your true desires.

Key Elements of a Living Will

A living will typically covers several important healthcare decisions, such as:

• The use of life support and resuscitation efforts
• Preferences for pain management and comfort care
• Decisions regarding organ donation

Creating a living will ensures that your medical care is in line with your values, making it easier for your family and healthcare providers to respect your wishes.

Advance Directives and Healthcare Proxy

In addition to a living will, an advance directive is another document often used to outline healthcare decisions. An advance directive includes both a living will and a healthcare proxy, a person you appoint to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

A healthcare proxy is an essential part of your senior legal documents, as it ensures that someone you trust will be able to make medical decisions for you. This person should be someone who understands your values and wishes regarding medical care. The main components of an advance directive usually comprise:

• Living will specifying medical treatment
• Healthcare proxy for decision-making
• Medical power of attorney to manage healthcare decisions

An advance directive, combined with a living will, provides comprehensive coverage for your healthcare decisions.

Medical Power of Attorney

While a living will outlines your wishes for specific medical situations, a medical power of attorney designates someone to act on your behalf. A medical power of attorney is crucial for ensuring that someone you trust can make healthcare decisions for you when you're unable to do so.

This person can communicate with healthcare providers and make decisions based on your preferences, which you have outlined in your living will. It is important to choose someone who is not only trustworthy but also familiar with your healthcare preferences and values.

How to Create a Living Will

Creating a living will involves several important steps to ensure that your healthcare wishes are clearly documented. First, take time to reflect on the types of medical treatments you would or would not want in specific situations. This includes decisions such as whether you want life support or resuscitation efforts if you are critically ill.

It's also important to appoint a healthcare proxy, someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to communicate. This person should be familiar with your values and wishes regarding medical care.

After you've made these decisions, consult with a legal professional to ensure your living will is properly drafted and valid. Once your living will is created, share it with your healthcare provider, family, and any other relevant parties, such as your healthcare proxy, so they are aware of your wishes.

Updating Your Living Will

It's important to review and update your living will regularly, especially if your health status or personal preferences change. Keeping your living will up to date ensures it reflects your current wishes and is valid when needed.

For example, if you're diagnosed with a new health condition or have a change in your family situation, you may need to update your healthcare proxy or specific medical instructions. Your healthcare providers should always have the latest version of your living will to ensure that your wishes are honored.

Your Living Will and Your Care

For seniors in assisted living or memory care communities, having a living will ensures that healthcare decisions align with their wishes, especially when they may be unable to communicate. A living will provides clarity to caregivers and family members, ensuring that medical treatments and end-of-life care are in line with the senior's preferences.

It also helps reduce stress for loved ones, knowing that they are following the individual's desires. Many communities request these legal documents to ensure the right decisions are made when necessary, offering peace of mind to both residents and their families.

Assisted Living in Burlington, NJ with Your Wishes in Mind

A living will is so much more than a box to check. It's a document that gives you peace of mind, your loved ones clarity, and will directly the type of care you may need in the future.

By getting this done today, you can provide comfort, security, and certainty in the future. If you're interested in an assisted living community that always puts your needs, your care, and your future first, Granville Place Assisted Living has got you covered.

Our serene community in Burlington, NJ offers upscale living with well-resourced, high experienced personnel on-hand, always. Schedule a tour today.