Planning for the future is a bittersweet practice. On one hand, it's so fun to think about major life moments and dreams coming true.
On the other, you also have to consider the harder times that will surely come.
But having a solid plan in place makes those inevitable hard times much easier. Instead of being left in a lurch, you and your support system can get right to work no matter what situation comes up.
A key to this kind of plan is a healthcare proxy. Find out everything you need to know about setting up your proxy!
It's easy to try to downplay how important it is to have advance directives in place. No one wants to think about a time when those documents would be needed.
Unfortunately, there's really no way to avoid these types of emergencies. So the best thing you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
If you have strong opinions about the type of healthcare you receive, it's key to have a healthcare power of attorney in place.
This means that you have appointed someone to be in charge of your medical choices when you can't. That could be because you are too sick to be competent or if you aren't fully conscious.
Too often this contract is arranged ahead of time and then there can be time wasted trying to figure things out -- or unwanted medical treatments performed.
Just like you want to choose the right senior living community, you want to find the best proxy.
It's important to not just choose the first person you think of or the typical choice of others. Instead, you want to take the time to consider who will make the same decisions you would.
Sometimes, this means going a little further out in your circle than the immediate family.
It can often be helpful to have that distance to keep a proper perspective. They can stay logical without getting too into the emotion of a situation. Whoever you choose, it's important that they know the responsibilities of a healthcare proxy.
In order for someone to have the legal authority for medical decision-making, the right steps must be taken. It's important to go through the proper channels so that there is never any confusion.
Once you've decided on who you want to be the proxy, you'll need to find the correct paperwork. This will be specific to your location which you can find online or from a legal expert.
Generally, it will be a durable power of attorney for healthcare forms. Be sure you go through each section carefully to get the most accurate plan. From there, it will need to be filed in the right places. This is likely with your healthcare provider and estate planner. Notifying key members of your circle is also smart. It's a good idea to consult a legal professional through the filing process.
Obviously, the biggest benefit of having a healthcare proxy is the peace.
The future holds so many unknowns, especially for an aging senior. No one really knows what's going to come around the corner and what issues are going to crop up. And that's scary.
It can cause a lot of stress to have to worry about who is going to make your medical decisions when you can't.
Having a healthcare proxy can also mean fewer delays in treatment during an emergency. There won't be any time wasted trying to figure out who has the authority. Your proxy can just step in and authorize whatever is needed.
When going through senior legal planning, it can be easy to make decisions and then move on. But this often means missing out on important conversations. This is especially true when picking a healthcare proxy.
The first key conversation to have is getting their agreement to take on the role. You'll want to go over the responsibilities and what you'll need from them. Make sure to share why you're choosing them as well!
After they've agreed, you'll want to go over your medical wishes. It's important that your proxy have a well-rounded understanding of your opinions. This way, you know they have all the information they need to make the choice you would. If you have specific instructions, make sure they have them all.
Don't forget to share this information with your senior living community as well.
While you're going through this process, you should continue through all the steps of estate planning for seniors.
Creating a will or trust is a great place to start. These documents will outline what you'd like done with all of your assets. Being as detailed as possible will help everything be carried out smoothly.
Another key step in this process is to appoint an executor. That's the person who will carry out all of your plans after you're gone.
It's also important to set up a power of attorney, separate from your healthcare proxy. This person will have control over your financial and legal decisions.
Once you've done the initial work of estate planning, you'll mostly be able to forget it. Just an occasional check to see if anything needs to be updated.
Too many seniors put off their estate planning responsibilities. But having things like a healthcare proxy in place gives huge peace of mind.
After you finish this, you'll never have to worry if you'll be taken care of during a health emergency. All of your wishes will be laid out so there is no question when the time comes.
This is one step in a happy, thriving life as a senior.
Our team at La Marea can help with many of the other steps. From a strong sense of community to regular activities, we've got everything you need. Contact us today to schedule a tour in Carlsbad, CA!