Living Will and DNR Order Compared
Q: Is there a difference between a ‘living will’ and a ‘do not resuscitate’ order?
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Home • Healthcare Power of Attorney • Advanced Directive
Q: Is there a difference between a ‘living will’ and a ‘do not resuscitate’ order?
These agents take over your affairs in specific areas, if you become physically or mentally incapacitated.
At such an emotional time, more paperwork is probably the last thing you want on your to-do list. However, taking a few key steps is critical to your financial future.
Some people think that, because their assets are jointly owned with a spouse or are in a trust, they do not need a Power of Attorney, or that if they become incapacitated, their spouse automatically has the authority to make medical decisions on their behalf.
To make sure you have your own decision-makers prepared to speak for your medical decisions if you can’t, because you didn’t get your vaccine for Covid-19, or some other tragedy, please see an estate planning attorney and get your living will and advanced directive in place.
The COVID-19 crisis isn’t just costing Americans their freedom and jobs; it’s also forcing millions to contemplate their own mortality.
In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to have your legal, financial and medical ducks in a row. Sadly, when serious illness strikes it is usually quite rapid and often unexpected. In these times, however, we do have forewarning that we are all at risk of contracting COVID-19, the coronavirus.
You know that you can always refuse life-sustaining medical treatment. The tricky part comes when you are no longer able to understand your options or communicate your wishes to the health care professionals.
In some states, those who are appointed ‘conservator of the estate’ are those who make financial decisions. Those who are appointed ‘conservator of the person’ handle the same issues as a ‘guardian.’
A few years ago, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine gave us yet another reason to worry about getting Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: They demonstrated an association between hearing loss and cognitive decline.