Are You in Control of Your Health? 3 Things to Consider for Elder Planning

Everyone makes a goal to improve their health. While some will plan on eating right and exercising more, others will consider their health in the long-term. There are steps everyone should take during estate planning to protect themselves as they age and especially during retirement.

Your Medical Wishes

Do you want to have life-saving treatments used on you? If you become incapacitated, how would you like to be cared for? Without a living will in place, decisions like these aren’t left to you or your family. Consider creating a living will with your estate planning attorney to plan out your long-term care wishes and make sure you receive the treatments and care you would request if you weren’t incapacitated.

HIPAA Release

You need a HIPAA release if you want medical professionals to discuss your health care matters with someone. A HIPAA release also gives medical professionals access to important medical documents that could determine what treatments and care procedures to use.

Long-Term Care Needs

While you may not think of it now, there may be a time where you need long-term care. An estate planning attorney can help you get set up for Medicaid and ensure you’ll qualify when the time comes. Even if you don’t qualify, your estate planning attorney can help set up a plan so that you have funds set aside to pay for the costs of your long term care.

Estate planning isn’t just for after death. For many, it can be a matter of planning for your future and the unforeseen events that can occur.