While planning your estate in California can seem daunting at first, individually completing the documents that you feel are most critical to your future can help you to better manage your efforts to make the process more efficient and less overwhelming. If you have chosen to include an advance directive as part of your plan, understanding what information to include in that document can help you to be concise in describing your desires without forgetting valuable details.
An advance directive is one type of legal document where you can discuss your preferences for medical care and treatment should you ever become incapacitated or unable to communicate your decisions. Providing this kind of information in a clearly written document can give your family members or caretakers the confidence to make decisions on your behalf that they know you would have approved. It can also prevent your family members or caretakers from making decisions that are against your will and unknowingly cause you unnecessary stress and upset.
According to medlineplus.gov, while you can address all kinds of concerns regarding your medical care in your living will or advance directive, here are some of the more common areas you may discuss:
- Whether or not you wish to receive lifesaving efforts if you cease to breathe.
- Whether or not you approve the donation of your vital organs upon your death.
- Whether or not you wish to continue living with the help of machines including dialysis equipment.
- Whether or not you are comfortable with eating solely from a feeding tube if you can no longer eat independently.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.
