Planning- Be prepared
One of the best ways to make sure you and your loved ones benefit fully from hospice, should you ever need this care, is to plan before you and your family find yourselves in the midst of a crisis.
Use this checklist as a guideline:
•Get the information you need to make informed choices about end-of-life care.
•Get to know end-of-life care services that are available to you such as Hospice of Laurens County.
•Discuss your thoughts, concerns and choices with your loved ones.
•Talk to your doctor about different treatments.
•Establish advance directives for South Carolina.
•Talk to your healthcare agent, family and doctor about your choices.
•Discuss your choices often, especially when your medical condition changes.
•Keep your completed advance directives in an accessible place.
•Give photocopies of the signed originals to your healthcare agent, alternate agents, doctor, family, friends, clergy and anyone else who might be involved in your healthcare.
•Assess your financial situation, create a financial inventory and determine what end-of-life goals you want to accomplish that involve money.
•Learn about the cost of end-of-life care, how medical bills and expenses will be paid for if you are not able to.
•Make financial decisions such as how you want to give your money and possessions to others upon your death.
•Prepare for the time when you cannot handle money matters; appoint a durable power of attorney.
•Plan your funeral/memorial service.
answers
