Greetings!  

What is a Living Will?

A living will is a legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding life prolonging medical treatments. It can be referred to as an advance directive, health care directive, or a physician's directive. A living will should not be confused with a living trust, which is a mechanism for holding and distributing a person's assets to avoid probate. It is important to have a living will as it informs your health care providers and your family about your desires for medical treatment in the event you are not able to speak for yourself.

The requirements for a living will vary by state so you may want to have a lawyer prepare your living will. Many lawyers who practice in the area of estate planning include a health care power of attorney in their package of estate planning documents. If you need to write or update a will or trust, you can take care of your living will at the same time.

Generally, a living will describes certain life prolonging treatments. You, the declarant, indicate which treatments you do or do not want applied to you in the event you either suffer from a terminal illness or are in a permanent vegetative state. A living will does not become effective unless you are incapacitated; until then you'll be able to say what treatments you do or don't want.

They usually require a certification by your doctor and another doctor that you are either suffering from a terminal illness or permanently unconscious before they become effective as well. This means that if you suffer a heart attack, for example, but otherwise do not have any terminal illness and are not permanently unconscious, a living will does not have any effect. You would still  be resuscitated, even if you had a living will indicating that you don't want life prolonging procedures. A living will is only used when your ultimate recovery is hopeless.

For situations where you are incapacitated and therefore not able to speak for yourself, but your health is not so dire that your living will becomes effective, you should have a health care power of attorney or health care proxy. A health care power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make health care decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated. The person you designate to make health care decisions on your behalf is supposed to consider what you would want, so be sure to talk with them about it. It may be a difficult conversation, but you're asking someone to take on a great burden for you - letting him or her know what you want lessens that burden.

None of these documents will do any good if no one knows about them. You have to talk with your doctor and the person you designate as your health care proxy. Discuss with your doctor what kind of end of life medical treatments you want. He or she can help you by answering any questions you have about certain treatments. Once you've decided what it is you do or don't want, make your wishes known to your doctor and your family. 

"Ask Jane" Director of Social Services

Hi Jane,

I am really confused about health care benefits and Medicare coverage. When can I enroll and when would my coverage begin?

Signed,

Puzzled

Dear Puzzled,

October 15-December 7, 2011 is open enrollment period. You can change your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2012. When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can join during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after you turn 65. If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before your 25th month of disability and ends 3 months after your 25th month of disability. Between January 1-February 14, if you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare. If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you will have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form. 

Wake-Up Breakfast Bar

Servings: 12 to 16 squares 

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1-1/2 cups peanut butter 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 5 cups bran-flakes cereal
• 1 package (6 ounces) dried cranberries

Directions

Line a 9 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with foil; set aside. In a large saucepan, stir together brown sugar and honey. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and cinnamon until smooth. Stir in cereal and 1/2 cup cranberries until coated.

Pat mixture into prepared pan, pressing firmly. Press remaining cranberries on top. Cover and chill until set or up to 24 hours.

To serve, use foil to lift mixture from pan; cut into squares. Will keep in the refrigerator for two days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 337, Total Fat 17 g, Carbohydrate 45 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 10 g. Daily Values: Calcium 0%.

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet 

"Fit as a Fiddle"

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