How Do You Feel About Advanced Directives or Living Wills?

I think everyone should have them. And give copies to the relevant parties. My state has a registry for the directives in case they can’t find someone or there is a dispute. Also, wills/trusts - please do them if you can. I highly recommend it. Peace of mind and no family fights over who gets what. My kids know exactly who gets what so it’s not a topic for discussion.
 
EmptyCup said:
I think everyone should have them. And give copies to the relevant parties. My state has a registry for the directives in case they can’t find someone or there is a dispute. Also, wills/trusts - please do them if you can. I highly recommend it. Peace of mind and no family fights over who gets what. My kids know exactly who gets what so it’s not a topic for discussion.
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Yes. I am in the process of obtaining a will. I will do more research. It just sort of hit me in the face when I was reading the draft.
 
The problem with advanced directives and living wills is me defining under what circumstances I would like to die and under what circumstances I would like to continue living.

If I can be revived and continue living my life as it has always been that would be fine.

If not, let’s turn the page and see what comes next.

Being practical, I hate to waste a bunch of money on a bandaid that will only delay the inevitable.

Sadly, all medical miracles are only temporary, in the end we all must die.
 
We got the "whole package" through our lawyer! Plus prepaid for our cremation!
Our daughter has all the documentation. It makes it easy for her. I also put a letter for her with all our accounts with phone numbers. (utilities, etc.)
I gave her the name of a good realtor to contact in order to sell our home and all additional info she might need as she does not live in town.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The problem with advanced directives and living wills is me defining under what circumstances I would like to die and under what circumstances I would like to continue living.

If I can be revived and continue living my life as it has always been that would be fine.
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The ones I have seen allow for that - so for example, it isnt I never want to be on a ventilator, it is I do not want to stay on a ventilator if there is no reasonable chance of recovery and quality of life.

So if you were in a n accident or had major surgery from which you would recover - you are ok with being ventilated.

If you have a major stroke and no reasonable chance of recovery or quality of life - you want it discontinued.
 
If the medical team is considering invoking your directive your life might well be effectively over.
Personally if quality of life is lost it's over for me.

EDIT: Wifey and I got ours about a year ago.
 
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DH & I have financial documents (wills, trusts) in place, but have filed no medical advanced directives.

When asked about it, I say something like, "An advanced directive for a colonoscopy? If something goes wrong you'd better break out the paddles and whatever else you've got in those Code Blue carts. If you have any questions, my "advanced directive" is sitting in the waiting room. His name is XXXXX."

I was once asked about an advanced directive when about to undergo cataract surgery. CATARACT surgery. Seriously???
I don't extend my life-or-death power to a group of doctors with whom I have no relationship. My husband and children can make those decisions when and if the time comes.
 
I'm a believer. My mother had an Advanced Directive, although there was no plug to be pulled. Instead, I had to watch her waste away in hospice while there was nothing I could do but hold her hand and tell her it was okay if she let go.

Hubs and I both have them as well. One never knows when they will be needed, and if I'm so far gone that I am unconscious and breathing on a ventilator I'm ready to go. Even at 68, I've had a fantastic, active, enriching life and don't want to live the rest of it as a vegetable.
 
StarSong said:
DH & I have financial documents (wills, trusts) in place, but have filed no medical advanced directives.

When asked about it, I say something like, "An advanced directive for a colonoscopy? If something goes wrong you'd better break out the paddles and whatever else you've got in those Code Blue carts. If you have any questions, my "advanced directive" is sitting in the waiting room. His name is XXXXX."

I was once asked about an advanced directive when about to undergo cataract surgery. CATARACT surgery. Seriously???
I don't extend my life-or-death power to a group of doctors with whom I have no relationship. My husband and children can make those decisions when and if the time comes.
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All that works when you have those people in your lives. I felt the same when I was married, but that changed when I became a widower. The directives I have cover and make distinctions regarding complications during routine procedures, and I trust my cousin who is my medical POA to be contacted to make a decision if there is doubt. Some people don't even have a cousin, in which case they especially need a directive.
 
seadoug said:
I'm a believer. My mother had an Advanced Directive, although there was no plug to be pulled. Instead, I had to watch her waste away in hospice while there was nothing I could do but hold her hand and tell her it was okay if she let go.

Hubs and I both have them as well. One never knows when they will be needed, and if I'm so far gone that I am unconscious and breathing on a ventilator I'm ready to go. Even at 68, I've had a fantastic, active, enriching life and don't want to live the rest of it as a vegetable.
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Are they filed with your medical group, SD?

I should have clarified that DH & I both have signed medical powers of attorney documents (designating the other, and then our children) but no advanced directives are filed with our medical group.
 
Since I have no assets or executor to any "estate" the only directive I have is my DNR orders. I have specified what they're allowed to do and requested comfort care if necessary. I also have voiced to the docs in ER on several occasions if they do work on me not to spend a lot of time on it. I don't need them spending 30 minutes trying to bring me back. I told them shoot me up with some medicine, shock me a couple times...if I don't respond let nature do it's thing. LOL
 
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