Have you spoken with your family about their end-of-life plans? Do they know your preferences for healthcare management in the event that you become too ill to express your wishes? Although these topics are difficult to consider, they are especially important for family members of advancing age.
Advance directives are plans you create, often with the help of an attorney, listing specific wishes for your care in the event of devastating illness or injury. For example, would you choose to be on life support measures such as a respirator to help you breathe, or feeding through tubes to sustain your life? Who would you choose to be your “proxy” (substitute) in decision-making if you were unable to direct your own care?
As the field of medicine develops, we have so many more opportunities for health and longevity. With all of the modern benefits also comes the challenge of knowing our personal limits and expectations. It is important to know all your options, and to talk about them with family members. It is certainly not an easy discussion, but imagine the difficulty and stress left to adult children trying to cope with a sudden downturn in health of a parent, if the family has differing opinions about what level of life-sustaining measures should be taken.
Making the time to meet with an expert in the field of senior care can help provide direction for your family, as well as help prepare you for possibilities that may arise. Please contact us to get started on your family’s plan for senior care, and let Nancy’s expertise guide you through the complicated details of aging in our modern world.