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Protecting Your Body and
Your Peace of Mind

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General Pages on Retirement

How to Successfully adapt to Retirement
Some helpful notes and suggestions on how to "overcome the Retirement Shock"
Jobs4seniors
Finding a Job when you are Retired and over 50
Travel For Seniors
You will find a lot of interesting travel suggestions on this page
Dating and Friendship Sites
You do not have to stop dating when you are retired. Enjoy life to the fullest!
A Financial Primer for retired People
Some simple explanations for a not so simple subject
Food and Dieting
A page that gives some suggestions for simple and easy to prepare food
Moving Abroad when you Retired

Pages on all issues related to assisted Care, Care Givers, Selection of Care Homes

The Problem of Age and the Provision of Care
An introduction to the different forms of care for the elderly. The choices you have when you need care.
Job and Cost Definitions for Caregivers - Day Care, In-Home Care, Caregivers and Companions
An explanation of what they do, what it costs and what you can expect.
How to Evaluate and Select a Residential Care Facility
Some tips on how to evaluate and choose a care facility. It is important, because it is for someone you love!
Glossary of Care Options and Facilities
A short explanation of terminology used in care facilities and care options
Alzheimer's, Dementia and other Serious Illnesses
Caring for the long term and terminally ill. Some thoughts and suggestions.

 

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Protecting Your Body and Your Peace of Mind
All about what you have to know to protect yourself in case you become incapacitated. Making a "Living Will"


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Becoming physically or mentally incapacitated is something that can happen to anyone. Statistically, it is more likely to happen when you get older. As you are going towards retirement or are already retired, it would be a good idea to give it some thought. It is not about being morbid or paranoid. It is more a reasonable precaution that should ensure you will be looked after if you become incapacitated. That is why we call it

Protecting Your Body and Your Peace of Mind

The Questions you have to ask Yourself

Who will decide ‘what’ for you and your body if you are not in a position to express yourself?

Who has the right to decide for you?

Your spouse, children, a friend or your doctor?

Do you want to be kept alive on a respirator?

If so, for how long and under what conditions?

Would you want to continue your life in an unconscious state?

Who will decide whether a coma is temporary or permanent?

Who will pay for your medical care, your insurance, the state or your family?

Who will decide who pays?

These may be painful questions but they are no less important for being so. There may come a time when you cannot decide for yourself how to answer these questions.

Therefore, you must think about these things while your are healthy and in sound mind.

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Some Issues You have to Deal with

You could appoint a medical surrogate, either a family member, a friend or a doctor. But, in many states this is a temporary measure covering only a specific illness or hospital visit.

There is no clear mandate for regulating medical surrogates. Only a few states regulate this area. If you, the patient has not appointed one
before you are ill or incapacitated a probate court must appoint one for you.

This appoint ment comes at a time, where the judge does not know the patient or his/her wishes. The judge can only rule on what "appears" to be fair.
This may not be what you want. It may also take time and delay important medical care, which will not be in your best interest.

A more permanent solution is a durable power of attorney for health care. For this you must anticipate the worst case scenarios involving your health and potential illnesses or accidents. Then you must think about what you would want in these circumstances and put it in writing.

It is important for you to know what laws your state has regarding protection of the seriously disabled and incapacitate.

It may be important for you to appoint a friend or a relative as "attorney in fact" to act in your interests, not theirs in case your are incapacitated. They will need to know your wishes, which as mentioned above should be put in writing.
These will cover your life choices.


For example, you may want to prolong life in case of unconsciousness or total paralysis or, you may NOT want to prolong life.

You may want to issue Do Not Resuscitate Orders if "xyz" occurs.

You may want to specify what kind of narcotic pain relief you want and under what circumstances.

You may want to give instructions regarding organ donation after your death. You can decide which organs to donate and for what purpose: transplant, research, education etc.

The best way to ensure your wishes are meet is to
write them down, now, not later. Then, find out how your state regulates medical care in these circumstances, proceed accordingly with the necessary legal forms and documents. Make sure you give someone power of attorney who is responsible and about whom you are 100% sure will have your wishes and best interests at heart.

You can go and see a lawyer and discuss the issues with him/her. A friend may also be of help. Provided the person is linked to you in a true friendship, not some temporary friend, who suddenly disappears! So be careful in your choice. There may also be a need to have a second back up person (the person you appointed could for instance himself be incapacitated while performing his duty for you!).

Probably the more you think about it, the better your choice. Below are some reading suggestions that might help you, or at the very least set you on the right path!

There are many other books available related to issues of creating a "Living Will" or giving "Power of Attorney". The above are just a selection which we found particularly useful and not too technical, to get boring!

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Last modified: Friday, October 20, 2006 17:38
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