Living Will Check-In: Ensuring Your Healthcare Wishes

Thinking about future medical decisions isn’t always easy, but taking the time to plan ahead can offer tremendous peace of mind. One important tool for maintaining control over your healthcare decisions is a living will. This document ensures that your wishes are honored, even when you can't communicate them yourself. It's never too early or too late to consider creating or reviewing your living will, and today is a great day for a check-in.

A Living Will: What You Need to Know

• A living will removes ambiguity for doctors and family members, guiding them through difficult decisions with confidence. Without one, your loved ones might struggle with the uncertainty of making decisions during critical times.
• This essential legal document makes your healthcare wishes known and respected if you're unable to communicate them directly, ensuring your intentions are clear to everyone involved.

Why Consider a Living Will?

• Having a living will provides clarity on specific medical treatments such as resuscitation, life support, and other critical interventions. This ensures that treatment aligns with your personal values and preferences.
• By creating a living will, you help to reduce the emotional burden on your loved ones during stressful situations. Making these decisions in advance allows them to focus on supporting you instead of having to make rushed judgments.

Making a Change

If you don’t have a living will, or haven’t updated yours in a while, now is an opportune time for a check-in. Ensure that your current document reflects your wishes and any changes in your health circumstances. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same by reviewing or creating their living wills. Taking this step ensures everyone is prepared and that your healthcare decisions remain in your control.