What is a living will?
A living will is important to document your wishes, especially if they change over time. For example, if you are diagnosed with cancer and begin treatment soon after, you may want to change your wishes to extend your life by three months. In some states, prior notification is required for such changes.
Living will is only valid if it was signed by your next of kin, or if it was received by a doctor following an emergency room visit, hospital admission, or prescribed medication.
After signing the form, it must be witnessed by two witnesses one who is taking care of your immediate family member, and another who is responsible for much more extensive treatment and planning regarding your care should something happen to you while you are unconscious or dead.
Living Will vs. Will:
A living will is different from a will. A will is created by a person and leaves everything to his or her child if they are before maturity.
A living will is created by a doctor for a patient whose health status has become irreparable without rest, treatment or interference by others. A living will is not created for someone with limited mobility or an illness that will eventually lead to death.
Do You Need a Living Will?
If you’re contemplating having a terminal illness or death, you may want to obtain a living will and health care power of attorney. A will is a power of attorney that is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf. If you don’t have a will, someone else can make decisions for you in some situations.
Together, a will and power of attorney create a dead-end road to life. A living will and health care power of attorney offers a better solution.
By creating these documents, you remain in control of your health care while empowering others to make decisions about how you should live your final days.
When Does a Living Will Go Into Effect?
A living will is a legal document giving instructions to the nursing home or healthcare professional regarding your care. When should your living Will be finalized?
Not before your death, according to the instructions in your will. Nor may it be revised or altered by your loved ones while you’re alive.
However, it can improve your quality of life. What does a living will consist of? It depends on the situation. For example, some states require the patient to list specific body functions that they want to be performed by a particular person.
Other states leave it up to the practitioner to fill out the basic form (often known as an Advance Directives Form), which simply asks the patient if they want their funeral arrangements made in certain ways or if certain medical treatments will be covered out-of-pocket.
Understanding the Will:
The purpose of a living will is to provide your physicians with final instructions about how your body should be cared for if you are unable to communicate.
A valid living will help reduce complications and hasten recovery. It provides basic instructions regarding how you would want your funeral arrangements to be handled if there were a future challenge to your health.
Also, a will can give your doctors authority to make certain arrangements for your care in the event that you become too ill to participate in normal activities of daily living.