Living wills allow elderly to make their own medical care decisions ...

As we mentioned earlier this week on our Scottsdale probate law blog, it is important for the elderly to take certain precautions to protect themselves from financial exploitation in their most vulnerable moments.

Protecting assets when one is no longer physically or mentally capable of doing so on their own is certainly a big concern amongst the elderly. But many elderly residents also want know what they can do to make sure that family members carry out their wishes for medical treatment as they near death. To make sure medical wishes are carried out as desired -- when one is no longer capable of making those tough decisions -- elderly Arizona residents can seek assistance from an attorney to create a living will.

Addressing end-of-life care is often an emotional and difficult subject for families. But when the elderly clearly state their wishes about end-of-life care and treatment, families can rest assured that they are making the right decisions for their loved ones.

For example, one 90-year-old woman said that she understands that she cannot control how she dies. But she knows that death is imminent, and she wants to make sure that she has control over how certain medical decisions are made if she is no longer able to make those decisions. She said that addressing these issues now while she is capable of doing so will also relieve her family from having to make all of the "big decisions" for her.

The woman has created a living will, which is a legal document that details her wishes about end-of-life treatment. It addresses certain scenarios and how she would like decisions to be made under specific circumstances. For instance, although family members may wish to do everything possible to keep her alive, she does not want to be kept alive by life-sustaining treatments such as a ventilator or feeding tube. Her family does not have to make this decision now; she has made it for them.

Some folks may wish to be kept alive by life-sustaining treatments. Still, living wills can address these issues so that families do not have to worry about whether they are making the right decisions or not.

Source: Buffalo News, "Getting a final health care plan down on paper," Henry L. Davis, July 24, 2012

Source: http://www.phoenixestatesandprobatelaw.com/2012/08/living-wills-allow-elderly-to-make-their-own-medical-care-decisions.shtml

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