First an update on our niece's husband, Patrick. He is still in critical condition in the ICU and has had both setbacks and progress in the last few days. There was a wonderful prayer service for his healing yesterday afternoon attended by family and many friends. Thanks for your continuing prayers!
This situation makes me want to remind everyone to check their own emergency contingencies.
Here are some tips:
Put a card with current emergency contact information of your spouse, children, neighbor in your wallet or car glove compartment so that officials can find your family quickly in case of an accident.
If you are married and maintain separate checking and /or savings accounts, either have your spouse named as a co-owner of the account or execute a power of attorney so your spouse could access the funds in case you are unable to do so. It might be needed!
Make sure you have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care executed and that the person named in that document knows where to find it in case it is needed. You can download the form for your state from the internet and get it signed in front of a notary.
If you have a minor child be sure you have a will.
Don't put it off until tomorrow. Truly, man knows not when his hour will come (Ecclesiastes 9:12).
Amen. I'm so thankful that all of my dad's important documents, from the family trust, to the financial power of attorney to the durable power of attorney for health care, were in one binder. I kept it with me at all times those couple of weeks he was in the hospital & in hospice.
ReplyDeleteSince then, I've wondered if it would be helpful and/or appropriate to have an adult ed course surrounding end-of-life issues, and cover topics like, as you said, the financial aspects to have in order, durable power of attorney, funeral planning, hospice; etc., and approach from a multi-disciplinary standpoint and have a doctor, lawyer, psychologist, social worker, etc., available for questions. My dad's stuff was very much in order, but there were still some bumps along the way. From experience with others & as a chaplain, I knew much about how to navigate the system. But I've often wondered about those for whom it is more difficult, and how to advocate for them.