Coral Springs, Florida Elder Law Attorneys Can Help with Advance Care Planning

Life is full of uncertainty. One day a person might be wake up feeling healthy and full of energy and the next, they might find themselves suffering from an injury or health issue that interferes with their ability to make decisions regarding their health. Because life is full of surprises, some better than others, it is important for individuals to have a plan in place in the event their health interferes with their ability to make medical decisions.

Advance Care Planning: What is it?

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), advance care planning involves three steps which include:

1. “Learning about the decisions that might need to be made” in the future.
2. Taking into account the decisions one would want to make.
3. Relaying to others the decisions that need to be made.

For example, if an individual were to fall ill from a medical issue and was unable to speak for themselves to let the health care staff know what type of care they are and are not willing to undergo, the decision may no longer be left up to them if they don’t have a plan in place that dictates this already. And this is why it is so important for anyone who doesn’t have an advanced care plan to begin working on theirs now.

What’s included in an advanced care plan?

An advanced care plan might address what type of emergency medical treatments a person would like to have rendered to keep them alive such as whether they are willing to undergo CPR, if they want medical professionals to use a ventilator, or if they are open to having a feeding tube. Advanced care plans should also address the types of decisions that would need to be made if a person’s health issue leads to serious complications.

The NIA recommends that if someone doesn’t have any health issues now, they might consider those that run in the family and how they would want medical professionals to respond if they developed the condition and it prevented them from making decisions regarding their health care. The NIA shared the following examples of some other things that might be addressed during the advance care planning process:

• If someone reaches their end of life, would they want medication to be administered to help make them feel “drowsy and lethargic?”
• If someone went permanently unconscious and came down with pneumonia, would they want to be given antibiotics or placed on a ventilator?

Although these types of questions can be difficult to think about and answer, having a plan for the future will determine the type of care a person receives or doesn’t receive in the event they can’t speak for themselves.

Getting Advance Care Planning Documents Written Up

When an individual is ready to start planning for the future, a Coral Springs, FL elder law lawyer can help them draw up the documents that will stipulate what types of medical decisions they want to be made in the event they become incapacitated. Miller Trial Law is an elder law firm with locations in Miami and Coral Springs that is ready to discuss the advance care planning process with anyone who needs more information on it or is ready to begin working on their plan.

Miller Trial Law can be reached at:

Miami Office

Town Center One

8950 S.W. 74^th Court, Suite 1711

Miami, FL 33156

Phone: 305-697-8312

Website: www.millertriallaw.com

Coral Springs Office

11555 Heron Bay Blvd., Suite 200

Coral Springs, FL 33076