If you want to protect your family, you must plan for the future. This includes planning for possibilities and eventualities that may make you uncomfortable. Planning for your own possible incapacitation due to illness is one of these things. It may not be pleasant, but it’s something all responsible adults with families should do. One of the ways you can do this is by crafting a living will. Below are five reasons why you should have one.
It Allows You to Have a Say When You Can Longer Communicate
One thing a living will does is make your wishes known if you ever end up in medically frail state in which you can no longer communicate your wishes verbally or non-verbally. Without the existence of a living will, important decisions regarding your treatment as well as estate planningmay be made by others. A living will allows you to remain in control.
It Puts Less Pressure on Your Family
Decision-making regarding terminal illness or a vegetative state can be a heavy cross to bear for family members. If they have to make decisions such as when to remove life support, it can even create fights and division between family members. If your wishes are known, however, they will have that burden removed.
You Won’t Have to Suffer
Certain individuals would rather pass away than live in a vegetative state without the ability to communicate. In other cases, you may not want to have to suffer from the pain associated with a terminal illness. A living will can prevent you from having to suffer in such extreme scenarios.
It Lowers Medical Costs
A terminal illness or illness that leaves you in a vegetative state can result in gargantuan medical bills. Your insurer may even try to fight your family on the coverage. A living will can help make your wishes regarding treatment known. Medical bills for traumatic brain injuries, for example, can balloon into the millions.
It Can Give You Peace of Mind
Even if ending up in a scenario in which a living will would be needed is remote, it may still be a good idea to obtain one. It can give you extra peace of mind that you and your family will be protected as you wish. That’s reason enough.
There are many benefits to working with a lawyer or estate planner to craft a living will. Overall, it allows you to remain in control even when you are no longer able to communicate your wishes. That not being the case is a situation you certainly want to avoid.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
