If your loved one became incapacitated could you pay their bills, make health care decisions for them and act as their advocate?
Families who are informed and prepared cope much better both in the short and long-term. Having legal documents in place becomes more important as health care options and life-sustaining therapies increase but don’t address quality of life issues or personal beliefs. In living longer we also need to prepare financial solutions that will not leave a financial burden on our families for our care needs. The public health care system is unable to keep up with the demand for care at this time and the Baby Boomer population will only compound this issue. Choice and dignity will come to those who take personal responsibility for planning ahead.
We prepare families to:
- Know and honour their loved ones wishes for the:
- type and extent of health care desired in different circumstances
- location they would want to receive care
- roles and expectations of family in care
- Confidently make critical decision making in health crisis or incapacity
- Establish funding for future care needs
- Have current legal documents required for health and financial decision-making
- Address Estate and final planning issues to reduce family burden
- Organize and manage critical documents
PHCA understands the anguish families go through when they don’t have direction and legal authority to speak for their loved one. Family conflict is a frequent consequence that only increases under the stress and confusion that comes from being ill-prepared.
Questions to consider:
- If your spouse had a brain injury today would you be confident making potentially life- altering decisions?
- Could you legally access funds for your daily living needs or to pay for your spouse’s care?
- How would severe illness or death emotionally and financially impact your family?
- Would your family come together or be in conflict over critical decisions?
- How thorough and current is your Estate Planning?
- Would you be leaving a mess or an organized Estate if you died suddenly?
