Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do in Florida or anywhere else. It’s a way to take charge and plan for the future while protecting your estate and heirs. You can also protect yourself by having advance care directives.
Understanding advance directives
An advance directive, also known as a living will, is a set of instructions included in estate planning detailing how your medical care should be handled if you’re incapacitated and can’t voice those wishes. Advance directives provide doctors and others with information on how you should be treated if you are terminally ill or in a vegetative state. They might also instruct them to not perform any resuscitative measures.
Although most people think of advance directives as legal documents that only older people need, anyone can benefit from having them. Accidents and illness can strike at any age, unexpectedly, so anyone can benefit from having an advance directive.
End-of-life care instructions
Advance care directives typically include end-of-life care instructions. Some treatment options you might consider include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), ventilation and tube feeding. Or if you prefer not to be resuscitated in certain situations, you can have a do not resuscitate (DNR) order included in your advance care directive.
Some people prefer palliative care when they’re terminally ill. This involves being allowed to die with dignity while in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by your loved ones while avoiding invasive procedures. You might consider being an organ and tissue donor to help others live or enjoy a better quality of life or even donate your body to science after you die.
When it comes to advance directives, you have many choices. This part of estate planning allows your voice to be heard.