Senior Sunrise

It’s not easy for elderly individuals to admit when they need help. At least that’s the view I’ve come to espouse based on experience. My own parents were raised in Depression-era New York state, and they asked no quarter from anyone their entire lives. My own kids occasionally asked me why Grandpa was so persistent about asking them to clean their plates, and the answer was obvious to me. When they were growing up, my parents worked hard to make their own way in life, and they didn’t waste anything.

My father has been gone for two years now, and mom had a difficult time coping at first. In recent months, she’s really begun to lose her way. She forgets things all the time, and I’m beginning to worry about her ability to function safely all alone at home. My wife mentioned the possibility of getting some at-home assistance, and I agreed that a caregiving service would be prudent. Mom didn’t like the idea at first, but she had to swallow her pride and trust that I was doing what was best for her.

As we get older, it becomes ever more important to plan for the future. And in some cases that future will arrive sooner than we might expect. Although it’s not exactly pleasant to contemplate drafting a living will, the process remains important nonetheless. These documents make it much simpler for our health care proxies and family members to carry out our final wishes.

A medical directive expressly states what we would like to be done in the event of an incapacitating illness or injury. When we are rendered unable to make decisions for ourselves, it’s important that someone can proceed confidently with a treatment plan. By completing a living will well ahead of time, we can ensure that our families won’t be burdened with a weighty and unfair responsibility.