Planning For Death PLR Ebook

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INTRODUCTION

The last thing most of us ever want to think about is our own death. But the fact is it comes to us all, and sometimes sooner than expected.

Everyone dies with a to-do list, but if making your end of life plans is on that list, it can cause chaos for your loved ones. However, this chaos can be avoided easily if you face facts and deal with your end of life considerations now, in a practical way, rather than then in an emotional and crisis-driven way.

There are several basic aspects to planning for your death that include what your wishes are in relation to your health care, memorial arrangements and what is to be done with your body. The other major considerations are to do with family finances. Who will be in charge of your estate - that is, what you leave behind of value? How will your family be looked after once you are gone? How can your estate be protected from excessive taxation?

Let’s start with planning ahead in terms of making your wishes known.

SECTION 1: MAKING YOUR WISHES KNOWN

The first step is to be clear about what you do and don’t wish to happen once you die. By being clear about this, you can take the guesswork out of the process so that your distraught family will know that they are following your wishes and that you would be pleased and feel respected by the decisions they make and the actions they take.

Ways of Dying

People die of old age (that is, natural causes), accident, or illness. There’s nothing you can do about the first one, but there are some decisions you can make in the case of the others.

Accident

If you are not killed outright in the accident, what would you wish to have happen in relation to your care?

Illness

If you become ill with a disease that is terminal, you can express a wish to not have too much invasive treatment so that you will be allowed to die with some quality of life and dignity intact.

No matter what you decide, writing it all down is essential. No one is a mind reader, so it will take the burden off your family to not have to guess about your wishes. In addition, there are a lot of legal aspects involved in a person dying, and so proper paperwork in place can make all the difference between things going smoothly and a tangled maze of confusion.

Paperwork Involved in Passing

There is a lot of paperwork involved in passing away. Knowing what to expect can prepare you and your family for all that will need to be done and make the process go more smoothly.

* Living Will

Your living will, or health care declaration, is a statement about what you do and don’t want in terms of medical care if you are unable to speak for yourself. Simply put, you decide about how far you wish medical professionals to go in preserving your life.

After an accident or due to illness, you might need supportive care which will prolong life even if you will not have any quality of life; for example, being seriously injured and not responding to external stimuli, commonly referred to as brain dead.

Your living will should state whether or not you want to receive life-prolonging treatments at the end of life. Such procedures typically include:

- Transfusions of blood and blood products
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Tests
- Dialysis
- Administration of drugs
- Use of a respirator, that is, a machine that will keep you breathing even if you can’t yourself
- Surgery

...and more.

In some cases, it might also include not administering food and water - for example, because you are in a coma. Giving food and water through tubes will be continued by hospital staff indefinitely unless they are told to do so otherwise. Similarly, you could be kept on a respirator for years and given CPR countless times unless you issue a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order (see below). If you decide not to preserve life by artificial means, you will be kept comfortable with pain medications until you pass away.

* Pain Medication Stipulations

Some people choose to refuse pain medications as well. This is referred to as palliative care. The goal of palliative care is to keep a person as comfortable as possible, and focuses on quality of life and maintaining one’s dignity until the end. Palliative care can be given in a hospital, hospice or the person’s own home.

* DNR

If you do opt for DNR, you should also obtain an easily identifiable MedicAlert-type bracelet, anklet, or necklace so that in the event you are in an accident or taken ill suddenly, those who respond to your emergency will be able to see your wishes clearly and not do anything extraordinary to keep you alive.

* Your Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

You can use a durable power of attorney for health care to name someone you trust as your health care agent. Your assigned agent will oversee your health care wishes such as the DNR and POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) and make any necessary medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. Note that if you are conscious and can speak for yourself, they can’t override your decisions even if they do not agree with them.

If you are not conscious, your agent can consent or refuse consent to any medical treatment as long as it doesn’t violate the terms of your other documents. They can decide on doctors and facilities, access your health information as needed, and visit you even if visiting hours are restricted.

Who should you name as an agent?

Choose someone you trust who will be assertive in carrying out your wishes. They should live near you and be fully aware of your decisions. They can also be your financial agent if you wish, to take care of all money matters while you are ill such as paying rent/mortgage, utilities and so on while you are unable to do so. If you have a different financial agent, choose two people who can work together as a team.

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