Are you an aging adult? Are you beginning to think about the time when you may not be able to make healthcare decisions for yourself? Those thoughts are not easy to have. However, you need to begin to think about your long-term care so that your loved ones will know what you would want in the event of a sudden crisis or incapacity. We encourage you to set aside time, soon, to have conversations with your loved ones about your personal preferences for medical decisions and for your long-term care. Let us give you some guidance on how to begin.
• If you were to become incapacitated due to an illness or accident, who would you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf?
• Is there anyone that you absolutely do not want to make decisions for you?
• If there was a need for feeding tubes, life support, and other artificial life-saving devices, would you want to use them?
• Is there any type of medical care you would never want?
• If you were permanently disabled or incapacitated, what would provide or take away from your “quality of life?”
• If you were given an option, would you prefer skilled nursing home care or in-home healthcare?
• If co-pays become excessive or insurance does not cover your treatment, how will you and your family pay for your care?
As you make and discuss your choices with your family, it is imperative that you document all your decisions in an estate plan. You need to meet with a qualified Florida estate planning attorney as soon as possible. He can help advise you in the choices you have for your healthcare decision maker. He can also prepare and advise you on all the other legal documents in your estate plan.
Do you have questions? At the Perlin Estate Planning & Probate our credentials enable us to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to our legal services. By building relationships with our clients, we are also able to understand each client’s needs and desires, and we support such goals through thoughtful, comprehensive planning techniques. We encourage you to contact us and schedule a meeting.