Legal Tales | Taking care of yourself beyond health – planning ahead

We are constantly reminded that we need to take better care of ourselves, and we take that seriously – we try to eat less, drink more water, get better sleep and work out more.

These are important things because they help extend our physical health. But what is also important, and often overlooked, is the need for us to take care of ourselves when our health fails and we become unable to make decisions for ourselves.

It is prudent – and I would say necessary – to have a system in place that we can be taken care of in the way we prefer when our health fails to the point that we cannot make decisions for ourselves.

Many may think that these are unnecessary, because can we not rely on our families or our healthcare system to do that for us? The short answer is that you can, but only up to a point.

Take this example. I have lost capacity, meaning my mental and cognitive abilities have declined to the point that I am considered no longer able to make decisions for myself.

I then suffer from a serious illness that requires treatment and constant care. But since I have no capacity, I cannot even draw money from my bank account to pay for my treatment and care. It may be that I have family who are able and willing to pay for that; but what if they do not have the financial means to do so, while I do?