Personal Plans When You Become Too Old or Infirm

[one...two...tree 2,762]

1. Do you and your spouse have an Advance Directive? If not, do you know what it is?

2. MPOA (Medical Power of Attorney)? And if so, is it someone other than a family member?

3. If You or your spouse become infirm and can no longer be taken care of at home, will you consider a long term care facility?

4. Have you ever had a family member live at a long term care facility? If so, what was your overall impression of the quality of care?

[웃 910]

1. The

2. Dems

3. Will

4. Lose

Edited October 31, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here's a good explanation of an Advance Directive

What kind of medical care would you want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes? Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.

A living will tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life. You can accept or refuse medical care. There are many issues to address, including

• The use of dialysis and breathing machines
• If you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
• Tube feeding
• Organ or tissue donation

A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that names your health care proxy. Your proxy is someone you trust to make health decisions if you are unable to do so.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Edited October 31, 2010 by El Buscador

[SuperDuper! 230]

Wow, thanks for bringing down the room. The mood was happy here just a few minutes ago....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yFSpml8oSw

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

1. Do you and your spouse have an Advance Directive? If not, do you know what it is?

yes, and when it comes time, nessa is instructed to first blame aj and then have ewok suspend me.

2. MPOA (Medical Power of Attorney)? And if so, is it someone other than a family member?

yes, and it involves pizza.

3. If You or your spouse become infirm and can no longer be taken care of at home, will you consider a long term care facility?

yes - see below.

4. Have you ever had a family member live at a long term care facility? If so, what was your overall impression of the quality of care?

nessa's gonna drop me off with a case of depends at hannah's house.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Wow, thanks for bringing down the room. The mood was happy here just a few minutes ago....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yFSpml8oSw

He is switching to non-political topics for the next 16 years.

[BishopM 114]

Dying must be pretty easy. Its something in which everyone will be successful. Therefore, I can't imagine that it requires any planning.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Dying must be pretty easy. Its something in which everyone will be successful. Therefore, I can't imagine that it requires any planning.

Good theory. Worded pretty well even as late as 100 years ago. Not so good in today's world of modern medicine. The life saving measures that a hospital must perform to keep a vegetable alive can bankrupt a family, both financially and emotionally.

An advanced directive is not just something for those getting on in years. Everyone who can drive should have one.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

1. Do you and your spouse have an Advance Directive? If not, do you know what it is?

2. MPOA (Medical Power of Attorney)? And if so, is it someone other than a family member?

3. If You or your spouse become infirm and can no longer be taken care of at home, will you consider a long term care facility?

4. Have you ever had a family member live at a long term care facility? If so, what was your overall impression of the quality of care?

To answer honestly:

1. No, and outside of the extensive discussions I've had with family I don't think I need one.

2. Yes, also financial, guardianship and Will (though the Will needs to be re-drawn)

3. Yes. I know how hard (and expensive) it is to organise in-home care for a needy family member.

4. Yes. Good is what I wanted to say, and mostly it is, but I admit I think some of the care staff there are "jaded" and I don't like how pushy they are, rather than encouraging... it's hard to explain. Hopefully I'd be too mentally gone to realise... otherwise I hope to die quick.

---

With everything that's happened with my dad in recent months is makes you more aware of what CAN happen and what I seriously hope doesn't happen to me... I'm not scared of death, I'm scared of those vultures that sometimes circle and take advantage of people not completely "there", in the mental sense. Despicable human beings.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[luckytxn 2,263]

I married a lot younger so she can take care of me when I am old and infirm.

[Danno 1,228]

I married a lot younger so she can take care of me when I am old and infirm.

Sounds like a plan to me!

I'm banking on my good family health history and will deal with this issue when I get closer to the moment of truth.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dying must be pretty easy. Its something in which everyone will be successful. Therefore, I can't imagine that it requires any planning.

I recently volunteered at a long term care facility. There were residents who looked like they were in their 50's, but had a stroke or some of other medical conditions that required them to be taken care of 24/7 and many families cannot provide the level of care they need. Many of these infirm residents live on for several years before they pass on.

As for Advance Directives, many families get pulled apart when a relative reaches a point where they need extraordinary procedures to continue living. My wife's grandmother, for example, can no longer swallow and the family decided she would have a feeding tube (gastrostomy). For me, I don't want to be kept alive that way.

Most of us, including myself, have these romantic ideas that we quietly pass on, lying peacefully in a bed surrounded by loved ones. In reality, many people's final years leading up to death are laborous and a struggle.

Edited October 31, 2010 by El Buscador

[웃 910]

When you are born, you cry and the world is happy. When you die, the world cries and you are happy.

Read something similar to this yesterday..

[mawilson 2,133]

3. If You or your spouse become infirm

I will always be firm - they have a pill for that now.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I'm going to move to China or Australia since everything is better there.