What would happen if you became seriously ill or injured and were no longer able to make your health care decisions? People of any age can lose capacity. They may have an accident, suffer a serious injury, or develop a disability at any point. A living will, a component of an advance health care directive, can outline your wishes so your loved ones can make informed decisions about your care in an emergency.
Death doulas are available for people who are approaching the ends of their lives, whether it is because of advanced age or illness. The service these professionals provide can help families and individuals who need additional supportive care. Adding a death doula to your end-of-life care plan may help you and your family feel like someone has your back as you face this trying time.
The American Hospital Association estimates that half of Americans suffer from chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Following a diagnosis, many experience concerns about the kind of care they will receive. They may worry about how invasive it will be, and how it will affect their quality of life. Fortunately, you can proactively decide what treatments would – or would not – suit your preferences.
Creating a living will ensures your future health care decisions and plans are respected. A living will, or advance directive, is a legal document outlining medical treatment preferences and end-of-life care if you can’t communicate or make decisions for yourself. Everyone should have an advance directive, as end-of-life situations can happen at any age due to accident or illness.
Nearly every United States citizen is aware of the option to be (or not to be) an organ donor. What most people do not realize is how the law in this area has evolved from “opt in” to essentially “opt out”. There is an important distinction between the two.
Just as we create estate plans for our eventual demise, we also need to plan ahead for the possibility that we will become sick and unable to make our own medical decisions.
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