Important considerations for your future health care

Delaware readers know it is impossible to predict the future. There is no way to know what will happen, but there are steps you can take to have some measure of control over a particular matter. One of the things you can do is to include provisions in your estate plan that address health care.

While there is no way to know what type of health care you may need in the future, it is prudent to think about what will happen if you are in a position when you cannot speak for yourself. You can do this by including health care directives and specific instructions in your estate plan.

What kind of care will I need?

There are certain tools you can use to complete your estate plan and address certain health care issues that may arise in the future. Some of the ways you can address your medical care wishes and objectives include the following:

  • Living will – This is not really a will, but it is a document that allows you to decide what type of medical treatment you may want if incapacitated. This directs doctors and loved ones in serious or end-of-life medical scenarios.
  • Health care power of attorney – This allows you to name a person to make medical decisions on your behalf if incapacitated. This would apply to things not mentioned in your estate plan.

Making important decisions related to your health care is not easy. It is not easy to consider end-of-life care and issues such as resuscitation, artificial ventilation, transfusions and more.

If you would like to have control over your health care in the future, it may be helpful to seek guidance from medical care and estate planning professionals as you do so. Many people also find it helpful to discuss these sensitive matters with family members as well.

Your complete estate plan

It can be incredibly difficult to make decisions on behalf of loved ones facing very serious medical situations. You can shield your loved ones from this difficult situation by completing your estate plan with health care directives.

The future is unpredictable, but you have no time to lose in learning more about what you need to have peace of mind for the future, especially regarding your health care and physical needs. Estate planning is an important step for everyone, but this is not a process you have to walk through alone.

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