Why Every Senior Should Have a Living Will
As you enter your golden years, it's important to think about your future healthcare decisions. A living will is a powerful tool that can help you maintain control over your medical care. It allows you to spell out your preferences for end-of-life treatment, giving you peace of mind and easing the burden on your loved ones.
Creating a living will is a smart step in your senior legal planning, ensuring that your healthcare choices are respected and your family knows exactly what you want. Keep ready to learn the importance of every senior in Los Angeles, California having a living will and the steps to make it happen.
What Is a Living Will?
A living will is a type of advance directive that guides your medical care if you can't speak for yourself. It's different from a regular will, which deals with your property after you are deceased. Your living will focus on your healthcare while you're still alive but very sick or injured.
With advance directives, you can say what treatments you want or don't want. For example, you might write down if you'd like to be kept on life support or not. A living will helps doctors and your family make choices that match your wishes.
The Importance of a Living Will for Seniors
Having a living will becomes extremely important as you get older because it makes sure your voice is heard, even when you can't speak. The document is a key part of estate planning for seniors, ensuring your healthcare preferences are known and respected.
Without one, your family might struggle to make tough choices on your behalf, potentially leading to disagreements or guilt. Your living will can prevent these issues by clearly stating your wishes. It also helps your doctors provide care that aligns with your values and beliefs.
As mentioned, creating a living will enable you to maintain control over your medical treatment, even when you can't speak for yourself. Your family will feel relieved knowing they're following your wishes, and you'll have the comfort of knowing your care will be handled exactly as you want.
How to Create a Living Will
Creating a living will might seem daunting, but it's a manageable process that can be empowering for senior care. You can start by carefully considering your personal values and beliefs.
Think about what kind of medical care you'd want in various situations. Writing down your healthcare decisions for elderly care is an important step in end-of-life planning.
Once you have a clear idea of your wishes, you have a few options for drafting the document itself. You can find online templates that provide a basic framework, though it's important to ensure they comply with California's laws. Another option is to work with an attorney specializing in estate planning or elder law.
A lawyer can provide personalized guidance and ensure your living will accurately reflects your wishes and meets all legal requirements regarding:
- Witness requirements
- Notarization requirements
- Acceptable language so there are no hiccups after your passing
It's crucial to choose a healthcare proxy, someone you deeply trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so. Have open and honest conversations with this person about your values, your wishes outlined in the living will, and any other relevant factors. Make sure they are comfortable with the responsibility and willing to advocate for your preferences.
After you've completed your living will, share copies with important parties including your:
- Primary care physician
- Designated healthcare proxy
- Close family members who might be involved in your care
Remember to review and update your living will regularly. Be sure to revise if your health status changes, your values evolve, or there are significant shifts in your personal situation.
Common Medical Decisions Addressed in Living Wills
When creating your living will, you'll need to consider several important medical decisions. Your document should clearly state your preferences for life-sustaining treatments.
These may include whether you want CPR if your heart stops, or if you'd like to be put on a breathing machine if you can't breathe on your own. You'll also need to think about artificial nutrition and hydration, which involves feeding tubes and IVs.
Another key decision is pain management. You can specify how much pain relief you want, even if it might shorten your life.
Organ and tissue donation is another topic to address in your living will. You might want to consider whether you'd like to receive antibiotics for infections, or if you'd prefer comfort care only in certain situations.
Keeping Your Living Will Up-to-Date
Life changes, and so might your wishes for end-of-life care. It's important to review your living will regularly, at least once every few years. Major life events are good times to revisit your document like:
- a new health diagnosis
- the death of a loved one
- a change in your marital status
You might find that your views on certain treatments have shifted, or you may want to add new instructions based on medical advancements.
When you make changes to your living will, be sure to destroy all old copies and distribute the new version to everyone who needs it. Let your healthcare proxy, family members, and doctors know about the updates you've made.
Keeping your living will current ensures that it always reflects your true wishes and gives you the best chance of receiving the care you want.
Securing Your Future With a Living Will
As you can see, a living will is a powerful tool that can give you peace of mind and protect your wishes. Utilizing this important document means you're taking control of your future healthcare decisions.
At The Watermark at Westwood Village, we understand the importance of comprehensive senior care planning. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, our community offers easy access to world-class healthcare facilities like UCLA Medical Center, ensuring top-tier medical support when you need it most.
We also provide a vibrant, culturally rich environment, with nearby attractions such as the Getty Center and Westwood Village.
If you're making decisions to spend your golden years in Los Angeles, contact us today to learn more about how our community can fit into your plans for a fulfilling life.