[Rhodes22-list] Not About Sailing - Advance Care Plans - State Specific

[Nell]

To All of You Who Have Requested State-Specific Advance Care Documents,

Please log on to http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3965
<http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3965&openpage=3965>
&openpage=3965 and follow the prompts.

You will be able to download your own state of residence Advance Care
Documents.

After discussing your wishes with your family and physician, complete the
forms, have them witnessed and/or notarized as required by your own state's
laws.

Keep a copy for yourself, give one to your Healthcare Power of Attorney, one
copy to whoever would be the first person to be likely contacted should you
be in an accident or suffer a health crisis, one copy to your family care
physician, and one copy to your attorney. 

It's OK to keep one in your safety-deposit box but accessing that box is a
rigorous legal process if you aren't the one to be doing it. 

So make sure everyone listed above has a copy.

Be SURE to revisit the subject at least once a year and don't be afraid to
make changes.

Remember, if you become widowed or divorced, the former spouse is
AUTOMATICALLY not able to be your Healthcare Power of Attorney.

Terri Schiavo passed away this morning.

Don't let her absence from the daily news be your excuse to postpone this
important work.

Let her experience and that of her family be the reason you do what is
necessary to not let your own life's end be the object of public scrutiny
and family conflict.

Take care and thank you for allowing me to raise this difficult issue.

Happy sailing.

Nell