Getting Your Affairs in Order
Three Things You Can Do Today to Get Started
For many people, advance care planning is such a big, intimidating topic that it can be difficult to get started—and as a result, they just never do. We want to help you break down planning for your end-of-life-wishes into manageable steps and actions that you can take on a little bit at a time. For example, if you are ready to get your affairs in order, here are three things you can do today to make progress.
- Download the Tips for Advance Care Planning from the National Institute on Aging. This helpful document outlines the common treatment and care decisions that should be outlined in your living will, such as CPR, artificial nutrition and hydration, and pacemakers. It also overviews other planning documents that you might want to prepare, such as a “Do not intubate” order. Make a list of anything that you want to be sure to include in your personal advance care planning documents.
- Download the Living Will Packet from the Franklin County Recorder. Do not be alarmed by the length of this document: It contains all of the paperwork you need to file. At this point, simply read through the contents to get an idea of what information you need to gather and the decisions you will need to make.
- Identify a friend, family member, or professional to guide you. We understand that this process is a significant undertaking, and it is very easy to become overwhelmed and forget about the paperwork. Find someone who can help you navigate this process—perhaps a friend who has already completed their advance care planning or was involved in doing so for someone else. You do not need to work with a lawyer to complete your living will, but it may be beneficial to speak to a professional for some initial guidance.
If we can help point you in the right direction, please reach out to our team.