European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 14, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday april 142007 stars and Stripe 15 your Money living wills make life easier on loved ones by Eileen Putman the associated press Washington during my fathers final Days he was surrounded by and by a blur of doctors nurses respiratory therapists medical monitors a ventilator and feeding tube none of which he much wanted we knew that because a few years earlier he had Given us his wishes for Endo life medical care trusting his loved ones to make treatment decisions when he no longer could painful As those decisions were for us knowing his wishes made the course clearer fathers and mothers Day Are times for celebrating parents but with More Ameri cans living longer even with serious ill Ness theres another aspect of the Par ent child relationship thais becoming Ines capable the need to plan for a time when a Parent can no longer handle healthcare decisions yet most people put that planning off All things being equal wed All prefer to be alive than to be dead and that senti ment hangs in there until pretty late in the game said Charles p Sabatino director of the american bar associations commis Sion on Law and aging which has created a consumer guide to Advance healthcare planning thanks to medical advances life expect Ancy for americans who reach 65 is about 83 according to the governments National Center for health statistics and that Fig ure rises slightly each year but Endo life planning is not just for the elderly baby Boomers Are hitting 60 a Marker that makes it harder to Dodge ones mortality even people in their 20s 3qs and 40s Are advised to make plans especially if they have children Steven author and humorist Art Buchwald Lowers the Gavel during the possible dreams auction 2006 in Edgartown mass Buchwald who refused treatment keeping him alive and lived Long enough to Tell the tale in his Book too soon to goodbye heightened Public awareness of Endo life medical issues he died Jan How do Youj envision your funeral what do you want your obituary will you a Charity or other organization for1 memorial donations it May not tie pleasant to think about that Means answering practical questions like these who will inherit your estate handle your financial affairs or care for your Chil Dren if there under 18 what medical treatment do you want to not you Are Ter Minally ill who will make treatment decisions for you if you cant what about feeding tubes ventilators and other me support measures that May keep you alive but not cure you will you donate your organs where will your remains go these but its easier for loved ones if you try to answer them pertinent movies or to shows a fiends health Strug Gles a funeral Fie news can provide a Way of up topic the raw of Terri Schiavo taken off life Loog a j a nor a j support by her husband in 2005 after Doc tors said she m a persistent vegetative state spurred Ianuly conversations and living wills say advocates and humorist Art Buchwald who refused treat ment aimed at keeping him alive and lived Long enough to Tell the tale in his Book too soon to say goodbye heightened Public awareness of Endo life medical issues however difficult talk is essential say healthcare professionals families struggle because there faced with having to make the decisions and they dont know what mom wanted because Treyve never had a conversation about it said Chris Turner inpatient hospice Clini Cal services manager at the Washington Home and Community hospices where Buchwald stayed for a time after refusing dialysis putting your preferences in writing also is important an Advance directive is an umbrella term for such documents the one containing your healthcare wishes often is called a living will almost a third of americans have living wills the Pew re search Center for the people and the press reported last year discuss your Advance directive with that person your family and your doctor give them copies and have your own copies easily accessible periodically reevaluate it even with planning medical twists and turns can make it difficult to interpret a patients wishes in my fathers Case a noninvasive nasal oxygen tube suddenly pro Gressed to a Darth Vader like mask and forced air contraption poorly tolerated by a Man who suffered from Claustrophobia had he Ever envisioned such a device would he have wanted it we were con stantly asking ourselves those questions still any Advance planning is better Man none experts say it May even be the ultimate gift to loved ones i personally badgered my parents for a very Long time to get Advance directives said Turner and when they finally did them it was underneath the Christmas tree and it was the Best gift i got that year thursdays Market High Low Ltd 52wk last chg chg chg 1279553 1068332 Dow Jones industrials 521142 413472 Dow Jones transportation 505200 51570 38037 Dow Jones utilities 5h20 137 38 770811 nose composite 947776 220875 180065 amex Index 221149 253142 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Hungary Israel shekel 40678 Japan Kuwait Norway Philippines Poland saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey new military Exchange rates Are those available to customers at military Bank in facilities in the country of issuance for Japan South Korea Germany the Netherlands and the United kingdom for no local currency Exchange rates in purchasing British pounds in Germa Check with your local military Bank ing facility commercial rates Are inter Bank rates provided for reference when buying currency All figures Are foreign currencies to one Dollar except for the British Pound which is represented in and the euro which is dollars Teuro an4 sensibility Al Day precious Gold Silver new Yoa merc dose interest rates prime rate discount rate 825 625 Federal funds Market rate 523 3month bill503 30year bond491 sources the associated press Bank of America plan a retirement move by Marshall Loeb Market watch new soon nows your Chance to reinvent at least where you live according to a recent sur vey of 1400 retirees and Pere Trees conducted by Fidelity in vestments two fifths of retirees moved after they retired while 15 percent plan to move among pre retirees 23 per cent plan to move while another 29 percent Arent sure if they a Fol if you Are thinking about pull ing up roots once your working years Are done consumer re ports suggests reviewing the Fol lowing factors to help you make your decision get an overview if you want Basic comparison information on crime statistics climate Cost of food and housing visit just enter your income into its cos Tolliv ing calculator and youll know How much you need to maintain your lifestyle in another locale Check out healthcare costs health care is a big priority for retirees so do some research to find out How much youll pay for nursing Home care doctor visits and other health expenditures learn the tax policy All states and cities and counties Are not created equal find out the states income tax poli cies local property tax and sales Gas and estate tax information and be sure to weigh each Type against the other if you must pay High sales or property taxes a state with lower income tax May not actually save you Money consult your family make sure your kids and grandchildren will want to visit you in your new City b test it out visit your new potential Home in different sea sons you May not like Florida in the summer for example you can even consider renting for a year before you buy a place so youre not committed if things dont work out
