Long Terms Care Plans: Why an Imperative?

What Does Long Term Care Planning Mean?

Long Term care planning is about more than just medical decisions. It’s a holistic approach to ensuring that your wishes, values, and needs are honored as you age. You have lived your life a certain way with your values, and decisions based on those values.

In my decades of working with clients as they move through the aging process and various health related conditions, foremost in my service to those I serve is to protect their agency; to know them well enough so that if the time came where I needed to speak for them, I knew what they wanted. I knew they enjoyed quiet time, or they wanted every social visitor that could come... that they loved a certain kind of music. I knew what they did not want.

Late life care planning is high on the "procrastination" list or what I call the "tomorrow list", and yet, we don't know when an event will occur when that "CARE PLAN" should have been in place. Because life happens and if we can do something, anything, to help our loved ones and ourselves know what we want, that is the gift.

Some of the topics of discussion to begin having NOW include:

• Healthcare choices: What kind of medical treatments do you want? Are there specific interventions you prefer to avoid? (see Slow Medicine)

• Living arrangements: Would you like to stay at home, move to assisted living, or explore other options?

• Legal and financial matters: Have you prepared documents like a will, power of attorney, or advance directives? Who is your Health Care Representative? (See Choosing your Health Care Representative)

• Emotional and social support: How will you maintain connections and find joy in daily life?

  
  

Shape your journey, your life, to the end with intention.

Example of an actual situation:

I was hired by a family - 2 sisters - whose brother was hospitalized due to a diabetic coma. They wanted me to help them navigate the medical options available to their brother who was in serious condition. The brother had no no Advance Health Care Directive. The sisters had no idea what he would want. He was intubated and if that was removed he could die. The other option was that he stayed on this intubation and tube feeding indefinetly.

The 2 sisters were very torn and could not make a decision as they felt so responsible should the brother die if intubation was removed.

What would the brother want? No One knew.

He could not verbalize his wishes at that point.

The sisters were left with an extremely emotional taxing decision to make. Had the brother had an Advance Health Care Directive, this document would have served as a guide for his sisters so they could make a decision based on his wishes. They could go home and sleep at night knowing they followed his wishes.

Practical Steps to Take Today

Sometimes, the idea of planning for the future can feel distant or even uncomfortable. But starting with small, manageable steps can make a big difference. Here are some practical actions you can take right now:

1. Write down your healthcare preferences. Consider what treatments you would want or decline. This can be part of your Advance Directive. If you want assistance, see my services on this and make a consultation appointment

2. Identify who the person or persons are that you want appointed as your Health Care Representative and get your Advance Directive completed and filed with your hospital and doctors.

3. Review your financial situation. Make sure your important documents are up to date and accessible.

4. Explore housing options. Visit local assisted living communities or talk to neighbors and, or friends who have made similar choices. Assess your capacity to Age in Place if that is your wish.

5. Create and know your support team. Identify trusted friends, family members, or professionals who can help you when needed.

   
   

Each step you take is a way of honoring your journey and ensuring your voice is heard. It’s okay to move at your own pace and revisit these plans and change them as your needs evolve.