In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson explains how making end of life decisions on behalf of someone else is never easy.
Transcript:
Hi! I’m Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law, proudly serving clients throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and beyond. I’d like to welcome you to our Elder Law and Estate Planning Minute. We do these to help educate people, give them some little tips, and especially to let them know the questions they need to ask, things that they’ve maybe not thought of. Our thought on that is that we can help you best if you realize the things that you need help and that we can help you with. So I hope you enjoy. Thanks!
As I record this, tomorrow afternoon I’m going to have to do something really sad. I’m going to have to have my older cat put to sleep. She’s 20 or 21 years old, blind from cataracts, incognate, and her hair is falling out. Objectively, sure, that should be an easy decision, but it’s not because I love her, okay? I relate that because that’s a cat. Imagine the burden of responsibility that you are placing on a loved one when they have to make that decision for you as a senior.
A couple things seem to me to be imperative. You need a healthcare power of attorney and directive telling them what you want, so that they will know, on paper, that it’s okay. And, you know, beyond that, because that may be something that you’ve done where it’s just a theoretical question 10, 15 years in advance. As you get closer to the time, you need to sit down with that person, who’s going to have to make that decision, and let them know it’s okay. Okay? It’s just not something to be taken lightly. Thanks.
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“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 (IL) or (314) 567-9292 (MO), or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
