Living Will is the Best Revenge

A few days ago, I did a tongue-in-cheek post about Maxine's Living Will.

But for all of that, I firmly believe everyone should have one, and each should make his or her views as clear as possible. 

G.W. sent us this link to a Values History Form.  This form includes a lot of questions about values and desires, gradually working up to preferences about death and dying.  I think it is a useful adjunct to the Living Will, and may make it easier for families to accept a dying family member's  desires.  It includes sections on relationships, living environment and religious background and beliefs.  The actual form begins about halfway down the linked page.

Having a living will (advance health care directive) is critical.  We all watched the plight of Terri Schiavo with horror as family, religious groups and politicians all used her for their own ends.  I hope this led each of you to make a living will, and to give a copy to your doctor, lawyer, family members and hospital.

If not, you can make one and print it at this site, which has state-specific living will forms. Or you can use the U.S. Living Will Registry, through which you can make your living will and have it available to select individuals when it is needed.  Just make sure those individuals know you have done this, or they won't know where to look.

Just do it.  You'll feel better after it's done.

[Image from Wikipedia]

Comments

[Laura]

What a fabulous set of websites for doing your own living will. We had ours done by an attorney through a pre-paid legal plan from work. Came out to be a great deal what with regular will and power of attorney thrown in, but free would be even better!