End of Life Planning
The start of a new year is an ideal time to set the intention to organize your end-of-life plans. Preparing now can save your loved ones time, money, heartache, and disagreements later, and is kind to those you leave behind.
Broadly, there are two areas requiring attention: your health care and body, and your earthly possessions and responsibilities. Two timelines need consideration: preparing for potential health decline and for your inevitable death.
While You Are Alive – Health Care:
As long as you are able to communicate, you can consent to or refuse medical treatment and express your health care preferences. Advance Care Planning ensures your values guide medical decisions if you become unable to speak for yourself. A Representation Agreement appoints a trusted person to act on your behalf. Advance Care Directives give a document authority to represent you in specific situations. A Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) and/or No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNR) form, completed with your health practitioner, provides directions for emergency care.
While You Are Alive – Finances:
If you are unable to manage your financial and legal affairs, an Enduring Power of Attorney appoints someone you trust to act on your behalf while you’re still alive. Make sure this is created while you are still competent, as only a capable person can create this document.
To ease the administration of your estate, protect assets, minimize taxes, and ensure your estate is distributed as you wish, there are financial preparations you can make now. A tax accountant can assist with these decisions.
After Your Death – Estate:
A Will is a legal document that provides instructions for your executor to follow regarding your estate and obligations. If you have minor children, your Will names their guardian.
After Your Death – Your Body:
The executor of your Will is also responsible for your body. Record the necessary information to register your death, and document your wishes for how you’d like your body cared for, who should be involved, how it should be returned to the earth, and any memorial service preferences.
The DeathCare Collective has an “End of Life Planning Workbook” with step-by-step instructions, available on the islanddeathcare.ca website under ‘Legal Information and End-of-Life Planning’ in the ‘Resources’ tab. If you prefer a printed binder, contact us through the website. Additional resources include People’s Law School and Nidus. For professional guidance, Sally Houghton, Quadra’s Notary Public, comes to Cortes regularly and is available to help.
End of Life planning requires courage and perseverance. It involves reflecting on your values, having conversations with loved ones, often seeking professional guidance, and recording your wishes. Though it takes time and sometimes money, it can save far more of both in the long run.