Be careful how you do this… Last Thanksgiving I was sitting in the living room after dinner and watching the football game, when I said to my family… “I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.” My grandson got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out my beer.
On the other hand, this week is the perfect time to bring up the topic of Advance Medical Directives. If you’ve had your Medicare-sponsored “End of Life” discussion with your doctor then explain your choices to your family.
Unfortunately, a recent study revealed that most hospice workers and other folks do not have an Advance Medical Directive. Now it the time to draft it! I can refer you to three sites that can help you prepare the document:
First, the Five Wishes form offered by the “Aging with Dignity Foundation” is very popular and can be found here.
Second is the Pennsylvania Allegheny Bar Association which offers a free form, which can be found here:
Third, and I am partial toward this, is my firm’s video and form. The form we use is the one contained within the statute itself, and is nearly identical to the Allegheny Bar Association form, and has withstood the test of time. But in addition to that, we provide about an hour of video instruction for the principal, for the agent who must act for the person who drafted the form, and for any health care or hospice worker who must act according to the form. We tell them what their rights and duties are under the document. This course has already been presented to accountants and investment advisors and to attendees at senior centers. The price is $15. and it can be found here.
Many studies have been conducted about why people do not complete these forms. The primary reason is “never got around to it.” So why not get around to it this week?
Stay well until the next post.
Bob Gasparro