While most people prefer not thinking about the potential for premature death or incapacitation, planning for the worst helps ensure you receive the care you need. A living will allows you to specify instructions for medical care.
If you feel unsure about whether or not you should create a living will consider the following ways it can benefit you.
Benefits of creating a living will
Whether you develop a terminal illness at the end of your life or get into a critical accident, you likely have certain preferences about the care you receive. If a health condition incapacitates you, disagreements, confusion and stress may arise among family and caregivers.
Living wills allow you to relieve this burden from others as well as make your wishes known. For example, should you fall into a coma from which you have no chance of recovering, you may specify that you do or do not wish for treatment that prevents death even if a cure remains impossible.
Considerations for creating a living will
As with any legal process, you should follow your state’s laws in creating a living will. Louisiana allows for the creation of living wills by any able adult. While not always necessary, creating written documentation of your will generally works well. Creation of the will must happen with two appropriate witnesses present. Should you ever decide you no longer want a living will, you may revoke it.
Adults of all ages potentially benefit from putting a living will in place. While you hope the worst never happens, planning ahead remains prudent.