Yet Another Bulletin Board
Sponsored by: The Fans!
Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 24th, 2024, 9:33pm

Upcoming Premiere Dates:
Survivor 23, Season premiere
Thursday, September 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on CBS
Home Home Help Help Search Search Members Members Chat Chat Member Map Member Map Login Login Register Register

| Fantasy Survivor Game | Music Forums | The '80s Server Forums | Shop Online |


Metropolis Reality Forums « Aging and dying with dignity »

   Metropolis Reality Forums
   Community
   The Grapevine (Moderators: Heather, Bumper, Isle_be_back)
   Aging and dying with dignity		 Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »
Pages: 1  Reply Reply Notify of replies Notify of replies Send Topic Send Topic Print Print
Poll
Question: Have you made preparations for the day you can no longer make decisions?
No - My Significant Other and I have only discussed it.
Yes -  I have, but my SO hasn't.
I have in place a Will and a Living Will.
No - I'm too young to think about my mortality.
I've done all that but it's out-of-date.  One of these days...I'll get around to it.
I would never appoint another person to decide whether to "pull the plug" or not.


« Created by: MzWings on: Oct 16th, 2003, 10:42am »
   Author  Topic: Aging and dying with dignity  (Read 196 times)
MzWings
ForumsNet Member
Canada 
*




Praying for FN members/family health & happiness

    Grahndmahmah
View Profile

Gender: female
 Posts: 0
Aging and dying with dignity
« on: Oct 16th, 2003, 10:42am »		 Quote Quote Modify Modify
While this is a sensitive subject and difficult to address - it's none the less direly important.
 
http://www.msnbc.com/news/980821.asp#BODY
 
WHAT’S A LIVING WILL?  
  It’s a legal document that speaks to doctors and hospitals as well as family members to tell them what you want in the way of medical treatment — including life support — if you’re in a condition where you can’t express these things for yourself.
  It goes hand and hand with a durable power of attorney for healthcare (also sometimes called a healthcare proxy). That document gives one person the ability to be the medical decision maker — just as a durable power of attorney for finances does for money-related issues — if you’re unable to make these decisions on your own.
  According to data a 2002 National Council on the Aging survey, 74 percent of people believe that writing a living will is “very important” preparation for later life (in fact, it tied with building up your savings as the most important preparation for later life). Yet only 20 to 30 percent of people have actually written one.
   
HOW AND WHEN SHOULD YOU GET ONE?  
  As the Schiavo case shows — Terri Schiavo was only 29 when she fell ill — it’s not a document that’s specifically for older people, although it’s often thought of that way. You can and should get both living wills and healthcare proxies as soon as you turn 18.  
   
IS IT EXPENSIVE?  
  It doesn’t have to be. One document that covers both the living will and the healthcare power of attorney is called the Five Wishes Living Will. It’s put out by a not-for-profit called Aging With Dignity (agingwithdignity.org, 1-888-5WISHES) that has backing from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. And it’s accepted in 35 out of 50 states. That makes it as close as the country has to a national living will document. The Five Wishes form isn’t free. Copies are $5 ($1 if you order more than 25). You can download free forms for your state at partnershipforcaring.org. But I prefer the Five Wishes because it’s written both in plain English and in such a way that it will get you and your loved ones talking about what you would want — and how and where you would want it —- when facing a truly dire healthcare situation.    
 
SO HOW DO YOU DO IT?
  Fill out the forms — whichever ones you choose — for yourself. Then use that experience as an entrée to sit down with your spouse or parents or other loved one to say, “I want you to know about the choices I’ve made.” It will open the door for them to talk about what they’d want as well.
   
CHOSING YOUR HEALTHCARE PROXY
  What happens if the person you’ve chosen to be your healthcare proxy can’t do it when the time comes because they’re out of the country — or just because they can’t step up to the plate emotionally.
  It’s always a good idea to have one if not two different back-ups. The Five Wishes document has a place to name in rank order, three people you’d like to make decisions for you.
   
WHERE DO YOU PUT IT WHEN YOU’RE DONE?
  Your family gets a copy, so do your doctor, your lawyer, and the people you name as your healthcare proxies.
   
 
IP Logged
"Senility Prayer"...God grant me...
The senility to forget the people I never liked
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do
And the eyesight to tell the difference."
Back to top
azure
ForumsNet Member
USA 
*****






  azure1967  
View Profile

Gender: female
 Posts: 4087
Re: Aging and dying with dignity
« Reply #1 on: Oct 16th, 2003, 10:51am »		 Quote Quote Modify Modify
I have made general requests as to what I wish to happen.  However it is not in writing.  That is actually something I am planning on getting to soon.
 
For example, I would not want to live in a vegetable state and have my friends and family go through that.
 
Also, I am an organ donor and want to be cremated
IP Logged
HELLO EVERYBODY!!
Back to top
rcs_mum
ForumsNet Member
USA 
*****




Proud Mom!

   
View Profile

Gender: female
 Posts: 1744
Re: Aging and dying with dignity
« Reply #2 on: Oct 16th, 2003, 11:30am »		 Quote Quote Modify Modify
I have taken care of too many patients and family members not to have in place a document that prevents myself and my family to go through  indignity and pain at my journeys' end.
IP Logged
Back to top
MzWings
ForumsNet Member
Canada 
*




Praying for FN members/family health & happiness

    Grahndmahmah
View Profile

Gender: female
 Posts: 0
Re: Aging and dying with dignity
« Reply #3 on: Oct 16th, 2003, 12:36pm »		 Quote Quote Modify Modify
:clapping: Brava!
 
It was about this time three years ago, when I approached my mom and dad about this subject.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I knew they had their Wills and such, set up years and years ago and my daughter was beneficiary.  Problem was, that Will was so old, it reflected her with a former married name.  Not only that, she was remarried and living in Canada.   Roll Eyes
 
We called their atty and began to bring everything up to date.  It was not a process that could happen overnight.  Plus, I had my own Will done at the same time.  Daddy thought I was silly for having this done at such a "young" age!  :laff:  I was turning 60 that year.
IP Logged
"Senility Prayer"...God grant me...
The senility to forget the people I never liked
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do
And the eyesight to tell the difference."
Back to top
east
ForumsNet Member
Canada 
*****




sigh

48936621 48936621   eastendgirlbc   eastendgirlBC
View Profile

Gender: female
 Posts: 3487
Re: Aging and dying with dignity
« Reply #4 on: Oct 16th, 2003, 4:49pm »		 Quote Quote Modify Modify
hmmm. perhaps i should do something about this.  thanks for the reminder wingsy!
IP Logged
read, study, reflect, write, read, study, reflect, spell check, write
Back to top
Pages: 1  Reply Reply Notify of replies Notify of replies Send Topic Send Topic Print Print

Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »

Metropolis Reality Forums » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.