Don't mean to be getting too personal here, so if I am, please forgive me.  This is a subject that I have had a lot of experience with and would just like to jog a few memories or suggest some advice.

I am sure all GN's would have at some time in their life discussed with their other half and family the importance of an up to date Will  BUT  have you also given some consideration to an ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE and POWER OF ATTORNEY.

I know first hand the difficulties the loved ones and family we leave behind, be it by death or incapacity, suffer.

You should give reasonable consideration to having all three of these documents and please DON'T PUT IT OFF thinking that "I will get to it later".  We don't know even if we will wake up in the morning or survive the day intact.  Sounds brutal and callous but believe me IT IS VERY NECESSARY if we care for those left behind.

The basic forms can be obtained from the Law Society in your State  via the web or I am only too happy to provide them to you if you would care to PM me. (Keeping in mind that my experience is within NSW - but I am told that the basic forms will suffice in all states and territories of Australia) I can give you implicit instructions as to how they can be filled out and the proper procedure for witnessing so that they are a legal document and what's more you don't even have to tell me or anyone else what you put in them.

Please don't put it off.

Respectfully,

Ma

Something that I forgot to mention:   of course you can engage a solicitor to draft and complete these documents for you and pay the appropriate fee BUT it is not mandatory to do this.   You can do them youselves and save the money.  The choice is purely a personal one.

Again sorry if I have overstepped the bounds.

Ma

Did all that as soon as I had anything to leave Ma. Lack of a Power of Attorney is giving one of my friends a headache at the moment. Her mum is in early stage Dementia, has always refused to get one , and now it's too late.
It's fine to be independant, but it can be a problem for your rellies later on if you're too much so.
As for the Advance Medical Directive, I think it's insane not to have one.   
Cheers,
xina.



-- Edited by xina on Saturday 22nd of August 2009 06:52:16 PM

It certainly can be Xina. Also as so often is the case when we have extended families ie: step children.  Now that's another subject entirely but still linked with these three documents. 

Ma, it's quite odd the things that spring to mind based on experience. And experience is the teacher. It's never too early or too late to sort out our affairs. It's also interesting to learn the things people put on the back burner for that "roundtuit". "I'll get around to it." A neighbour here in this park failed to wake from an afternoon nap a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately he had made all the arrangements and his family just had to act upon them. A great jog for the memory banks, and a fact of life and death. Thank you. Cheers Chris

after dealing with death and it's complexitys for most of my life I had a bit of a think, the answer that I came up with is, bugger it, I am not going to die, that simplifys everything no look I've thought long and hard about it and you wont convince me, I am here (on this earth) for good, if the lord wants to see me then she's gonna have to make a house call because I am not going anywhere

Good for you Dave. You tell 'em Love.

On ya Dave.!! I'm with you mate..Refuse to go . Just now I'm enjoying this earth too much to not be here!{Particually now I'm starting to sort this computer stuff out.} Thanks Ma for thinking along those lines. I'm sure a lot of us think about it and say nothing. We've made a list of our affairs, {what they are--where they are} and run through it with our daughter, just in case...NO point in running through things with our son........he just refuses to discuss that maybe we won't be around. Ma..What is a Advance Medical Directive? I think I know but am not too sure.I certaintly had'nt thought about anything medical. Cheers Dellie

Hi Delliemay, You can google Advance Health Directive, and get all the info you need. Cheers, xina.

yes Ma weirdly this is a taboo subject for some alas NONE OF US ARE IMORTAL...
I have been raving about this for ages and I'll say it again, IF YOU WANT SOME SAY IN HOW YOU ARE TREATED WHEN YOU CAN NO LONGER MAKE DECISIONS THEN ORGANISE YOURSELF NOW!!

It scarred the bejesus out of me to think that I could be legitimatley be put on life support and kept alive as a vegetable simply because no one knew what I wanted, and when I'm at that stage it's too late to do anything about it....

I have seen so much avoidable truama caused simply becuase a loved on did not believe in wills or medical directives or power of attorney. The whole family has to endure suffering and financical hassels because some selfish or ignorant or stubborn rellie thought they would be OK.

hate to think what would have happened if my late Husband hadn't had an Advance Directive.

Ma

now 2 on the list of real portant stuff!! (1) update the will (2) advance directive dragon know's what I want anyway, vindictive old bat would probably keep me going just to continue harrassing me

dave06 wrote:

---

now 2 on the list of real portant stuff!!

(1) update the will

(2) advance directive

dragon know's what I want anyway, vindictive old bat would probably keep me going just to continue harrassing me

---

Yeah Dave that was my worry, being kept alive by a machine so SWMBO could live the life of Riley on my pension....

Take Care with the directive, living will or whatever you want to call it, it needs to be carefully worded so that you don't end up being "put down" when all you need is a Bex and a cuppa...

 

good point, knowing her she'd give me a bullet behind the ear if I stubbed my toe!! better word it correctly

As with anything of this nature one word in the wrong place can have dire consequences.

It pays to "read between the lines" and if you have any doubt........seek the appropriate advice.

Ma

good advice Ma, I'll ask the dragon when she gets home, she'll tell me when it's time, hell I hope it's not this arvo, got visitors coming, wouldnt want to miss them

and you have to hang around till at least April/May next year too Dave.   I'm looking forward to my brekky.  Oh, can I have some black pudding with the bacon, eggs, tomatoes, hash browns and baked beans please.

Ma

"black pudding with the bacon, eggs, tomatoes, hash browns and baked beans please." good god after a brekky like that I'd be begging the dragon to take me to the vet?????? I love crumbed brains by the way, they go well with the prawns that I bbQ as well as the kidney and liver! dont like that tripe BLechhh!!!

don't forget the toast and coffee too Dave