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Home Blog Senior Living 101 The Importance of a Living Will for Seniors

The Importance of a Living Will for Seniors

Posted on October 1, 2017

Tagged with: Senior Living 101
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What is an Advance Health Care Directive or Living Will?

An Advance Health Care Directive or living will is a document that helps one prepare for end-of-life medical decision, and is often paired with a power of attorney for health care.

Such a document is important because, given a medical situation in which someone can’t speak for himself, it lets medical providers and other decision makers know the individual’s preferences, and it can authorize someone to speak on the person’s behalf. Without an advance health care directive or living will, patients who can’t communicate may be left to the confused decisions of squabbling family members or the mercy of doctors who might use artificial means to prolong life, or refuse to do so, regardless of what the patient would want.

How do I prepare a living will and advance medical directive forms?

Preparing documents for a living will and advance directive can be done at any time during an adult person’s lifetime. As one’s preference can naturally change during one’s life, these documents can also be amended and modified to reflect the changes.

Obtaining medical advance directive documents is simple. Medical offices, hospitals, social workers, attorneys, and even post offices may carry these documents. Hospitals receiving medical and Medicaid payments are required to offer their patients these documents. A good place to begin this process is an open discussion with a primary-care doctor or other treating physicians.

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  • Home
  • Communities
    • Search by Zip Code
    • Maryland
      • Bay Village Annapolis
      • Candle Light Cove
      • Queenstown Landing
    • Pennsylvania
      • Colonial Courtyard at Bedford
      • Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield
      • Colonial Courtyard at Tyrone
      • Exton Senior Living
      • Glen Mills Senior Living
      • Magnolias of Chambersburg
      • Magnolias of Lancaster
      • Newhaven Court at Clearview
      • Newhaven Court at Lindwood
      • The Pines of Mount Lebanon
      • The Residence at Fitz Farm
      • The Residence at Presque Isle Bay
      • The Woods at Cedar Run
    • Virginia
      • Hunters Woods at Trails Edge
      • The Residence at Colvin Run
  • Levels of Care
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    • Leadership Team
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