Kansas and Missouri Estate Planning

How do I Choose the Right Hospice?

Hospice is a wonderful service for those who are terminal.

Perhaps you have heard of hospice.

If you have had a loved one with a terminal illness, you likely have had experienced with hospice.

Hospice often gets confused with palliative care.

According to a recent AARP article titled “How to Find a Quality Hospice,” they are quite different.

The purpose of palliative care is also to empower patients and relieve suffering.

What makes them distinct?

Palliative care is an option for anyone with a serious illness.

Hospice requires a terminal diagnosis.

Hospice is usually provided where the patient lives.

The hospice team will frequently visit the home or long-term care facility of the patient.

What is the goal of hospice?

Hospice does not work to restore health, but to help the family and the patient through the difficulties associated with end-of-life realities.

This means the relationship between the hospice team and the family is of utmost importance.

How do you find a hospice team for your loved one?

Start by doing research.

Interview different providers and evaluate what they provide in light of your needs.

Bring questions to the interview and have a clear idea of the type and quality of care you desire for your loved one.

The connection and care from the hospice team is important.

What questions should you ask?

• Would the medical director come to care for complex symptoms?
• What are after hour policies?
• Does the care provided meet the level required by the Medicare hospice benefit?
• Is the facility accredited?
• How are staff certified?
• Does the facility utilize volunteers?
• Do not be afraid to ask questions.

It is important to pick a hospice that fits the needs of your loved one.

While there are many fine hospice providers in the Greater Kansas City area, I have been a volunteer attorney for Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care since 1997.

I can personally attest to the professionalism and compassion of the good folks who work there.

Reference: AARP (June 27, 2019) “How to Find a Quality Hospice”

Is "End of Life" Planning a "Gift"?

As someone who deals with issues of "morbidity" and "mortality" as my calling, I can confirm that things go exceedingly better for all concerned when thoughtful and appropriate planning is in place when relevant. 

Period.

A recent KTUU.com article, titled “End of life planning a 'gift for family,' experts say”,

Having advanced directives or a living will, and a power of attorney in place is a "gift" to family, according to the article.

In the end, one's family must make the tough choices when it comes to life and death decisions. When the family members are uncertain regarding one's wishes, well, things can get rather rough for the decision-makers.

Experts quoted in the article note that many family members have complicated grief after doing their level best to "guess" what their loved one would have wanted.

To say the least, this can be very distressing.

So, what should you do now, so your family will know what you would want (or not want) later on?

The article recommends something called “the five wishes" model.

Here are the five wishes the process will let your family and health care providers know:

• Those you want to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to;
• The kind of medical treatment you do (or do not) want;
• The type of comforts you want;
• How you want people to treat you; and
• What you want your loved ones to know. 

This five wishes approach not only documents your medical wishes, but also your emotional, personal, and spiritual wishes. 

Be sure to get the guidance and counsel of an experienced estate planning attorney when processing these essential issues.

Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.

For more information about estate planning in Overland Park, KS (and throughout the rest of Kansas and Missouri) and to download free tools to help you organize your estate, visit my estate planning website. 

Reference: KTUU.com (May 13, 2015) “End of life planning a 'gift for family,' experts say”