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Re: THAT'S THE TRUTH

Posted by bluemarlin08 on August 04, 2002 at 18:32:04:

In Reply to: THAT'S THE TRUTH posted by curator 911 museum.com on August 04, 2002 at 18:17:29:

So you shift health care decisions to your children. I have seen both sides of this equation. Children that understood the wishes of their parent, and the decision they made letting ole dad die, sometimes a very lingering death by denying medications, and the guilt that haunts them for their life. I have also seen children unable to go through with the parents wishes. Recently talked with someone whose dad was on life support and they were about to pull the plug but mom said lets wait a little longer. The guy improved and lived an additional 12 happy years.
POA are necessary for proper planning, but they may not accomplish your objective. Gift the amount of the premium to your kids and let them decide if they keep it or pay a LTC insurance premium. They are going to be your caregivers.

: If I develop ALZ it triggers the POA clause - someone else is now in charge or my healthcare - that means they cannot authorize, request, require, demand, or in any other way administer any drugs to me other than pain killers. Didn't think that's legal I suppose, but it is. No one can inject me with anything I don't authorize, eh?

: : What happens if you develop ALZ? No way to have the plug pulled and your thinking process can become so scrambled you don't know "your a-- from a hole in the ground" Think of the impact on your family and finances if they have to care for you. They either have to take care of you or hire helpers or put you in the nursing home. What will care cost in 5, 10,15, 20 years. If you fully understand the odds, fully understand future costs, and have enough assets that paying a couple of thousand dollars a year doesn't impact your standard of living, I can't imagine not shifting this risk to an insurance company. I assume you have insurance on your house andn the likelihood of having a fire are much less than a long term care claim.
: : : My POA's instructions are that if she ever has to fulfill the function, she is to not have me medicated for any ailment, and I can only be given pain medication. I've talked it over with my son (and other close family members), he's aware of my feelings, and the instructions I've given to my POA, even though at his young age he may not fully understand or agree. My point is these are my wishes, not anyone elses. I've been visiting my Mother in the nursing home for 2 years now and I see how people linger. I don't want to, so I've made my wishes known. If those close to me don't abide by my wishes, then they assume the guilt and responsibilty for any change in plans. If they abide by my wishes, their conscious is clear because they did what I asked. I understand when you're dealing with lawyers, the courts, the government, the medical community, funeral directors, etal, things can change and the waters get muddy, just ask Ted Williams family. But I think I've made my wishes clearly known, and preserved the majority of my assets for my heirs, not for long term care.

Follow Ups:

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID Dbl. Aaaaaaaack 19:21:26 08/08/02 (1)
- Re: THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID sue 03:33:55 10/10/02 (0)

Re: THAT'S THE TRUTH : So you shift health care decisions to your children. I have seen both sides of this equation. Children that understood the wishes of their parent, and the decision they made letting ole dad die, sometimes a very lingering death by denying medications, and the guilt that haunts them for their life. I have also seen children unable to go through with the parents wishes. Recently talked with someone whose dad was on life support and they were about to pull the plug but mom said lets wait a little longer. The guy improved and lived an additional 12 happy years. : POA are necessary for proper planning, but they may not accomplish your objective. Gift the amount of the premium to your kids and let them decide if they keep it or pay a LTC insurance premium. They are going to be your caregivers. : : If I develop ALZ it triggers the POA clause - someone else is now in charge or my healthcare - that means they cannot authorize, request, require, demand, or in any other way administer any drugs to me other than pain killers. Didn't think that's legal I suppose, but it is. No one can inject me with anything I don't authorize, eh? : : : What happens if you develop ALZ? No way to have the plug pulled and your thinking process can become so scrambled you don't know "your a-- from a hole in the ground" Think of the impact on your family and finances if they have to care for you. They either have to take care of you or hire helpers or put you in the nursing home. What will care cost in 5, 10,15, 20 years. If you fully understand the odds, fully understand future costs, and have enough assets that paying a couple of thousand dollars a year doesn't impact your standard of living, I can't imagine not shifting this risk to an insurance company. I assume you have insurance on your house andn the likelihood of having a fire are much less than a long term care claim. : : : : My POA's instructions are that if she ever has to fulfill the function, she is to not have me medicated for any ailment, and I can only be given pain medication. I've talked it over with my son (and other close family members), he's aware of my feelings, and the instructions I've given to my POA, even though at his young age he may not fully understand or agree. My point is these are my wishes, not anyone elses. I've been visiting my Mother in the nursing home for 2 years now and I see how people linger. I don't want to, so I've made my wishes known. If those close to me don't abide by my wishes, then they assume the guilt and responsibilty for any change in plans. If they abide by my wishes, their conscious is clear because they did what I asked. I understand when you're dealing with lawyers, the courts, the government, the medical community, funeral directors, etal, things can change and the waters get muddy, just ask Ted Williams family. But I think I've made my wishes clearly known, and preserved the majority of my assets for my heirs, not for long term care.

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