The Care Navigator

The Value of Life and the Importance of Legal Health Care Planning

Martin wants to rehabilitate his father. Henry was an active 93 year old until he had a stroke last August. At the time there was no thought that his father would have health issues. Nor were there preparations made for the legal needs associated with his father's medical care. Henry did not have a will, living will or health care directive. Fortunately he recovered and was able to make decisions for himself, however if this did not occur, Martin would have been unable to made decisions for the care of his father. At the same time, Martin realized that he needed to make preparations for his own legal health care needs.

A health care directive allows an individual to appoint someone to make decisions for them on their behalf in the event that they become unable to make decisions for themselves. A living will states exactly what an individual would want to happen in the event that they become unconscious and are unable to make decisions. Many individuals choose not to have unnecessary life sustaining measures if there is little or no chance they will recover. These decisions are highly personal and very important, yet many individuals lack education about the importance of planning. Through a Pre-Paid Legal plan or your own personal attorney you can make arrangements to have these documents completed.

Henry was able to return home after a hospitalization and a nursing home stay. In spite of having physical and occupational therapy at home, Henry continued to decline. Martin works nights so he can be home during the day to care for his father; he is fortunate to sleep six hours a day. His wife works during the day while their children attend school. Martin's desire to care for his father has caused a strain on the family and the physical stress on Martin is visible.

However -- Martin believes in the value of life regardless of an individual's age. In the case of his father, he has retained paid caregiver assistance twice daily. The care not only includes personal care, necessary because of his father's limited mobility and inability to manage continence, but also exercise and speech therapy. Henry desires to improve and regain mobility and strength in spite of being virtually bed bound and nearly paralyzed on the left side of his body.

Henry smiles when his care provider arrives in the morning and again in the afternoon. He holds her hand as she reads to him and shows him flash cards to read to improve his speech. He willingly participates in each repetition of exercise. Progress is made step by step. The care provider smiles each time he repeats a new word and each time he performs an exercise. This interaction represents an amazing gift between two individuals. One who wants to please by doing exercises and improving and the other, a gifted individual, with a gigantic heart who is rewarded by each tiny improvement.

For those involved, there is beauty in the value of life - it can be seen in Martin, in his father, in his wife, in his children, in the care provider and in the special relationship and desire of Henry to improve. For those with strong beliefs, there is beauty in the value of life. There is the hope in the ability to improve.