What Does “It’s All Taken Care Of” Really Mean?

When adult children are told, "It's all taken care of," regarding their final arrangements, what do they really mean?  Is EVERYTHING really taken care of?  ... CLICK HERE to read an excellent article by Gail Rubin - a must read for everyone! 

 http://agoodgoodbye.com/end-of-life-issues/what-does-its-all-taken-care-of-really-mean/

 

Most Often Asked Questions for Final Arrangements

Following are some questions that most families are unaware of when making final arrangements for a loved one:

1.       Durable Power of Attorney - goes away at death – allows you to make the decision of disposition for the person (Refer to ARS 36-831)

2.       Certified Death Certificates – Only immediate family members, or persons who have documentation proving they need a Certified Death Certificate can obtain them from the Office of Vital Statistics.

3.       Certified Death Certificates cost $20.00 each in most AZ counties.

4.       Celebration of life, Memorial Service, Funeral Service – provide closure for family & friends.

5.       Embalming - is NOT required for a direct cremation, but is required for public viewing.

6.       Body Donation Companies have to hire a Funeral Home for the final disposition – and you CAN choose the Funeral Home you want to work with.

7.       Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery does not charge for interment or honors.

8.       Pre-Arranged services paid for through a 3^rd party Insurance Company

a.       Guarantees most pricing with the Funeral Home

b.      Protects money from probate, government assistance

c.       Can be moved to any funeral home

9.       When death occurs at home –

a.       Hospice Care – call your hospice company.

b.      Non Hospice Care – call 911 to report death; have a preferred care doctor’s name & phone number available; ME may or may not take the case depending on the circumstances.

Call Sonoran Skies Mortuary for Personal & Compassionate Attention

480-985-4900

5650 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ  85205

www.sonoranskiesmortuaryaz.com

PLAN YOUR LIFE TO THE END: Advance Directives

An advance directive is your life, on your terms.  Documenting your end-of-life wishes whether you are 18 or 80 will help family members honor your wishes and they will not have to make emotional heart-wrenching decisions if you become incapacitated.

Formal advance directives are documents written in advance of a serious illness that state your choices for health care, or name someone to make those decisions for you, should you lose your decision-making capacity. End-of –life care has become an issue of great concern mainly because of the advanced medical technology available to prolong life and because of the growing number of legal cases involving comatose patients whose families wish to withdraw treatment.

The way for you to retain control is to record preferences for medical care in advance and share them with your family, physician and clergyman.  Laws vary from state to state, but in most cases, a patient’s expressed wishes will be honored.

 

LIVING WILL: 

A living will is a document that stipulates the kind of life-prolonging medical care you desire should you become terminally ill, permanently unconscious, or in a vegetative state . Many states have their own living will forms, each with somewhat different requirements. Standard forms are available at book or stationery stores, online or you can make your own form or write a statement, but your state’s witnessing requirements must be adhered to.  South Carolina requires two witnesses. The living will must be signed by the maker, dated and witnessed by two individuals that you know well, but are not related.

 

A Durable Health Care Power of Attorney:

A durable health care power of attorney is another kind of advance directive: a signed, dated and witnessed document naming another individual to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself at any time, not just at end-of-life. You can specify desired treatment or treatment you care to avoid, such as artificial nutrition, surgery and hydrations.  Most states have specific laws concerning health care power of attorneys and provide suggested forms.  South Carolina provides the statutory form, code of laws section 62-5-504 and requires two witnesses. Living wills were developed first and health care powers of attorney were designed later to be more flexible and apply to more situations. Today, it is possible to have both and some states combine them into a single document.

Advance directives may be changed or revoked at any time. Any alterations or revocations should be signed and dated, and copies given to family members, physician, clergyman and attorney, if applicable.

If there is no advance directive by the patient, medical decisions are left up to the family members, physicians, hospital and ultimately a judge. Many times when advance directives are unavailable, the patient ends up spending months or years on life-support machines causing unnecessary emotional or financial distress on their loved ones. By documenting your wishes when you are competent, you can relieve your loved ones of many heartaches, headaches and unnecessary distress. 

Where can one obtain living-will and health-care –power-of-attorney forms?

Forms for all states can be obtained by writing or calling the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, 1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625, Alexandria, Va. 22314, 1-800-658-8898. Forms may also be obtained by visiting the National Hospice and Palliative Care Web site, www.caringinfo.org.

Advance Directives - Put Your Wishes in Writing

If you’re incapacitated at the end of life – unable to speak or communicate with doctors or loved ones – how will they know your wishes for end-of-life care? Would they make the same decisions you would have made for your care? You can answer these questions by putting your preferences in writing now, using advance directives.

The three types of advance directives

You should consider drawing up all (or a combination) of the three main types of directives:

1. Living will – instructions for your preferred level of treatment (for example, whether to have a feeding tube or other forms of life support.)
2. Durable power of attorney for health care – designation of another person to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them for yourself.
3. Do not resuscitate (DNR) order – whether you want to be resuscitated if your heart or breathing stops.

These directives are legal documents but do not require a lawyer’s assistance. Many examples are available online and can be adapted for your particular situation, then signed by you and notarized. Each state has different requirements for these documents; forms that are specific to your state also can be found online. Most states honor another state’s advance directive.

When are directives used?

Your advance directives are valid only if you are incapacitated and not expected to recover. But in order for them to be followed, your directives must be known to your family and your physician. That’s why it is so important to put your desires on paper and give copies to your loved ones and your health care provider. You can also register your advance directives with your state (a handful of states, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Vermont, have free registries) or, for a fee, with the U.S. Living Will Registry.

To get started, talk to your doctor about end-of-life decisions and options. Decide what’s right for you, and talk about your decisions with family and friends. Put your decisions in writing, and ensure those who will be caring for you have a copy.
Advance directives help you make things easier for your family and for yourself at the end of life. Make your wishes clear now.

www.funeralwise.com