With its natural beauty and attractions, such as the confluence of St. Joseph, Portage, and Rocky Rivers, and good quality of living, Three Rivers, MI, offers seniors an ideal retirement environment.
Still, unfortunate events can quickly incapacitate or make Three Rivers seniors unable to communicate. Falls are a perfect example; the U.S. CDC says they're the leading cause of injuries among older adults, with 37 million incidents occurring among them yearly. Many lead to hospitalizations due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Without a living will as part of a senior's advance care planning (ACP) or advance directive, they risk having personal care and healthcare decisions made by someone else. Unfortunately, such decisions can be against their wishes.
To that end, the compassionate team at LakeHouse Three Rivers, our retirement community in Three Rivers, MI, created this guide on ACP. Read on to discover the importance of these senior legal documents and tips for establishing them.
While both are crucial, advance care planning differs from estate planning for older adults. Estate planning involves carefully managing and distributing an individual's assets and personal affairs. Advance care planning is a voluntary process of preparing and establishing an advance directive, including a medical power of attorney and living will.
Michigan Compiled Laws Section 700.5506 refers to a medical power of attorney as a "patient advocate designation." It designates a "patient advocate" to make medical and healthcare decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do so yourself. A living will specifies such medical and healthcare preferences.
One of the primary reasons Three Rivers seniors should establish a living will is to let themselves maintain some semblance of autonomy, even if they can no longer speak for themselves. Such documents also benefit their families by minimizing, even eliminating, confusion regarding crucial health and personal care decisions.
Maintaining autonomy is one of the primary benefits that Three Rivers seniors can enjoy from implementing healthcare planning and establishing a living will in advance. With these documents, older adults still have the last say on their future medical and personal care choices, even if:
While it can be emotionally taxing to think about oneself becoming unable to communicate, the hard truth is that aging makes people more susceptible to incapacitation. One example is if an older adult develops aphasia, also called "dysphasia." It's a communication disorder that often results from cerebrovascular incidents, such as stroke.
The National Library of Medicine says that dysphasia impacts one in 272 Americans, and a third of the cases are due to cerebrovascular accidents. Seniors are more likely to suffer from it, with those 85 and older having a 43% chance of developing it.
TBIs can also lead to aphasia. Such injuries are more prevalent among older Americans, given that fall incidents are their most common cause. Indeed, a study published on JAMA Network in 2024 says that TBIs occur at the highest rate in older adults and that from August 2000 to December 2018, nearly 13% of seniors 65+ experienced it.
Many scientific breakthroughs and innovations in healthcare have helped people lead longer, healthier lives. Despite these, many older adults live with multiple disabilities and illnesses. For instance, the National Council on Aging says that while 95% of seniors 60 and older have at least one chronic health condition, 80% live with two or more!
While many older adults would like to enjoy life for as long as possible, they may only want to if they can make sound decisions themselves. Otherwise, they may prefer not to get life-lengthening treatments. Some possible reasons for this include:
Without a living will, Three Rivers seniors risk not having those wishes respected if they suddenly become incapacitated or unable to communicate. Therefore, all adults (especially older ones!) should establish a living will and medical power of attorney as soon as possible while they are still of sound mind.
Michigan seniors, including Three Rivers residents, can and should establish a living will with a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC). DPOA-HC lets older adults designate their preferred patient advocate.
A living will (on its own) doesn't require notarization, but a DPOA-HC does. Still, seniors must sign the former with two other people ("witnesses").
Three River seniors should prioritize personal needs, preferences, and values when writing a living will. Asking the following questions can help:
Once you've finished the above, the next step is speaking with your loved ones and care providers. Let them know your wishes and that you'd like them to honor and respect all if you can no longer make such crucial decisions yourself.
Remember: It's never too early to create an advance directive, including a living will. For this reason, seniors must establish such documents as soon as possible.
If transitioning to a warm, peaceful, and loving assisted living community in Three Rivers, MI, is one of your care-related preferences, we encourage you to explore LakeHouse Three Rivers! Our beautiful retirement community ticks all those boxes (and many more!) with its highly tailored personal care, chef-prepared meals, lovely gardens, wellness programs, and numerous engaging activities.
Call us today, and we'll happily schedule your tour and visit!