How End Of Life Planning Provides Peace And Empowerment For Older Adults In Clearwater

Thinking about ourselves, the aging process, and how it leads to our eventual demise is something few people want to do. However, death is a fact of life, and confronting it on your terms can provide a sense of comfort, peace, and empowerment.

Clearwater elder law attorney William Rambaum has over 40 years of experience helping older adults and their loved ones with end-of-life planning. Find out more about why it is important to approach this sensitive topic and the issues to address.

End Of Life Planning Gives Seniors Greater Control

According to Florida Health Charts, the average lifespan is between 78 and 80. No one lives forever, yet the topic of death continues to be taboo. Sadly, this can leave older adults feeling anxious and isolated at a time when they need the support of others the most.

The National Institutes of Health reported on studies of groups of nursing home residents and interviews with their caregivers regarding how they approached death. They claimed that as the patient’s passing got closer, the caregivers generally lacked instructions and relied on getting them to talk about memories and other distractions instead.

This method gives seniors little control or say. Most likely, they had an idea of how they wanted the situation handled, but the topic was too uncomfortable to talk about in advance. End-of-life planning allows older adults to determine up front how they want their eventual death and the circumstances leading up to it handled.

Addressing End Of Life Issues In Tampa

Approaching death as a fact of life rather than keeping silent and avoiding the topic can provide peace of mind and greater control. When making end-of-life plans, our Clearwater elder law attorney advises the following documents to address important issues:

• A will: The first step in advance planning, your will provides an inventory of assets and allows you to determine who benefits from your estate.
• Powers of attorney: This involves naming someone you trust to make important decisions on your behalf. In addition to handling financial affairs, you can dictate how you want your funeral, burial, and other matters handled.
• Advance directives: These inform both your family and medical providers about your wishes regarding ventilators, feeding tubes, and other end-of-life care. You can also name someone to act as a healthcare surrogate, authorizing them to make important medical decisions on your behalf.

Contact Our Board-Certified Clearwater Elder Law Attorney Today

End-of-life planning can provide older adults with peace, comfort, and a feeling of control in dictating how their eventual death is handled. Board-certified by the Florida Bar and the National Elder Law Foundation, a designation few other legal professionals share, Clearwater elder law attorney William Rambaum is uniquely suited to help older adults put the appropriate documents in place. Call or contact our office online today to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=ChartsMaps.LifeExpectancyReport

usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/documents/advanced_directive_info.pdf