End of Life Documents You Should Get Now

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Lifesong Funerals under funeral home
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funeral homes in Monticello, FL

Before our loved ones are planning our funerals at funeral homes in Monticello, FL, there are several end of life documents that we should get and keep updated with current information until we draw our last breaths.

 

One end of life document you should get now is a durable power of attorney. A durable power of attorney lets you appoint one or more people to handle legal, business, and financial affairs for you if you are not able to because you become incapacitated.

 

Why is it important that you get a durable power of attorney now?

 

Suppose you end up having emergency medical surgery on Wednesday of next week. An important legal, business, or financial transaction, however, has already been scheduled for that day.

 

You are incapacitated because of the anesthesia given to you for the surgery. Without a durable power of attorney, the scheduled transaction cannot take place. It might result in the loss of a business expansion that your company needed.

 

It might result in the loss of the opportunity to close on the purchase of a prime commercial or residential real estate sale. It might result in the loss of an opportunity to purchase shares of a company’s highly anticipated IPO.

 

So, even if your physical end of life seems like it is far away in the distant, there are times in your current life where having a durable power of attorney can make all the difference in the world.

 

Older Americans are more likely to be incapacitated by cognitive problems and the development of dementia. You need to make sure that someone you trust to handle your affairs has been designated as your durable power of attorney. This not only protects you and your assets, but it also protects the inheritance that you intend to leave to your family members.

 

Another end of life document you should get now is a medical power of attorney. A medical power of attorney document is a legal instrument that lets you appoint one or more people to oversee your health care if you are not able to do it yourself.

 

If you are younger and healthy, you may not think you need a healthcare power of attorney. However, if you have an accident or suffer a critical medical event that leaves you unconscious or unresponsive, if you do not have a medical power of attorney, the medical team providing care for you will decide what the best medical care is for you.

 

You will not have a medical advocate who can make sure your wishes are adhered to.

 

Therefore, you should also get a living will, no matter what your age or health status. A living will lets you determine what kind of care you receive if you are in a life-threatening situation.

 

funeral homes in Monticello, FLIf you do not have a living will, your medical team will exhaust every medical intervention that they believe is necessary for your care will be used. If that’s what you want, even if it could lead to negative outcomes in the long run or it will still end in death, then not having a living will is okay.

 

However, if you do not want this kind of medical intervention when you are in a life-threatening condition, then a living will lets you specify that. Your medical team is obligated to abide by your wishes.

 

If you want to learn more about end of life documents from funeral homes in Monticello, FL, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help.

Lifesong Funerals

We have nearly twenty years serving families of all backgrounds. These families turn to us in their time of need because they are aware that we are leaders in our vocation, have the highest level of integrity and are committed to providing quality service.

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