Seniors And Assisted Living: Do You Need A Living Will?

If you plan to reside in an assisted living facility because of a terminal illness, you may create a legal will to cover your belongings, finances, and properties after death. Although a legal will is one of the most important documents you can create right now, so is a living will. A living will allows you to direct or determine the type of medical care you'll receive in life if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. Learn more about living wills and how you can create the document you need below.

How Crucial Is a Living Will?

Many people draw up or create legal wills once they reach a certain age. A legal will protects your property and other valuables after you become deceased. However, not many people create living wills. A living will is a legal document or record that determines how, when, where, and what medical care, if any, you receive if you become incapacitated in life. People who enter assisted living facilities may choose to create a living will as a way to protect their rights in the future.

Although assisted living facilities are good options for seniors today, the facilities may use various means or measures to maintain your quality of life and health. Measures, such as resuscitation and medication treatment, may be some of the steps taken to prolong your life. If you wish to pass naturally, you may not want a facility doing anything to prevent it.

If you're ready to create a living will before you move into an assisted living facility, contact an attorney soon. 

How Do You Create a Living Will?

An attorney can help you complete the correct living will forms for your needs. Living will forms can be short and precise, or they can be long and extremely detailed. You want to use forms that allow you to complete or list everything you want or need to happen with your medical care in the future.

An attorney may ask you to obtain or find witnesses to verify your will. Your witnesses may not be relatives, such as a spouse or child. You can use the verifications of good friends and neighbors. An attorney can provide the exact number of witnesses you need for the verification of your will. 

After you complete your will, an attorney may file a copy with your state and/or city. You also want to provide a copy of the will to an assisted living facility. You also want to keep a copy of your living will in your belongings for safekeeping. 

Learn more about living wills by contacting a law firm like Wright Law Offices, PLLC. 

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