The Importance of Advance Life Planning for Your Healthcare Needs

As you are aware, and in Dee Dee’s trusted hands, retirement planning is an essential aspect that many people prioritize as they age. What most people put on the back burner is planning for their healthcare. Discussing this aspect of retirement planning may be unpleasant, but it is crucial. It helps you remain in control of your healthcare decisions even when you are unable to make them. Your Nurse Advocates Consulting would like to thank DeeDee and her team for considering this an important topic as well as allowing us to provide a guest article for her and speaking to all of you. We have interviewed children of aging parents and one of their biggest fears is that they will be left with the burden of making decisions.

One interview was with my youngest son who is in his mid thirties.

He is my “practical” kid, and I knew he would be straight with me.

He told me, “Mom you are going to have all your decisions made and all the legal documents that go along with your retirement all done and ready right?” I said “yes, but why do you ask?”

He couldn’t be plainer with his explanation. “Mom, you know I love you, right?” I replied “yes,” not knowing what was coming next. He said, “I am all about making sure you have everything the way you want and will carry out your wishes to the letter and make sure everyone else does the same, but don’t make me have to make any decisions. I will help to care for you and make sure everything is taken care of but don’t make me have to figure it all out. I have my life, too.

Wow, I guess I walked into that one! We started “Your Nurse Advocate Consulting” to help families address the planning process for preparing for their healthcare needs.

We can follow a family along the entire healthcare journey.

We do this virtually through free resources, workshops, courses, and 1:1 consulting.

We help to develop the plan and update it while assisting in identifying resources as healthcare needs change.

Both Linda and I are Board Certified Patient Advocates, (BCPA). There are many reasons for healthcare advanced planning.

1. Create a Plan

The first reason you need to do advance life planning is that it creates a plan for your healthcare needs. For example, if you don't want to be kept alive by machines if you have a terminal illness, your plan will provide instructions on how you want to be treated, especially during an emergency. Do you want to go to a nursing home?

Would you consider an Assisted Living to maintain your independence?

Would you move in with your family?

Would you consider hospice?

Do you want to stay in your own home?

What resources will you need?

What if you are diagnosed with a chronic disease, how do you want that managed?

2. Avoid Strangers Making Decisions

We have seen many times in the hospital setting when a mom or dad comes in with an illness such as a stroke and they are unable to make their healthcare decisions known. If there are no documents outlining the wishes, a court appointed guardian may be chosen through a guardianship hearing. We have seen family members chosen as guardians, we have also seen a “corporate” guardian chosen because family members can’t agree on plans.

3. Avoid Burden on Your Children

Your adult children will worry about whether the decisions they make regarding your healthcare align with your wishes if you haven't planned. During our interviews with adult children caregivers, they talk about it as being both a blessing and a curse. One common theme we heard was “I just want to be the daughter” or “I just want to be the son again, and not the caregiver.”

4. Plan Early

It’s never too early to plan for healthcare needs. Health issues can arise unexpectedly, and it’s important to be prepared ahead of time.

5. Simplifies the Decision Process

Planning for healthcare needs can simplify the decision making process. You'll already have a plan in place for what kind of medical care you want and who will make decisions for you. No arguments amongst family members. You have already made the decisions.

6. Get Help from an Expert

An estate or elder care attorney and a financial advisor are great resource to help plan for retirement needs. A Nurse Advocate can also walk you through the options related to your healthcare journey as you age as well as end-of-life care and other health decisions that need to be made. Making life plans ensures that you get the best quality of healthcare available.

Conclusion:

Retirement planning is essential, but it is equally important to prioritize advance life planning for your healthcare needs. By making life plans now, you can secure your future, getting the best quality of care that aligns with your preferences and budget.

Thanks for taking this time with us. We provided a link to our “free resources” and we are adding more items regularly so check back.

Take care,

Pam Dunwald, R.N. BCPA

Linda Kritikos, R.N. BCPA

Your Nurse Advocates

Resources:

Free Resource page: https://yournurseadvocateconsulting.com/freeresources/

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