Last month I was lying on a hospital bed waiting to be wheeled into the operating theatre. The nurse and anaesthetist were putting needles and drugs into me and I was remembering all of those statistics about how there is always a risk of dying in any operation.
I felt surprisingly calm as I listened to the jingly 1980s pop hits and the cheerful staff cleaning up the theatre. What will be, will be I told myself and then it occurred to me … I can’t believe the risky situation my family had been in up until the very night before.
Literally 24 hours before going in for surgery I had never had any official planning documents in place … no Will to express what I would like done in the event of me passing away, no Enduring Power of Attorney so that someone could take over my financial affairs if I was unable to, and no Enduring Guardian who would make decisions about my accommodation, health and services.
I didn’t really expect that this was going to be my last hours on the planet but it did hit me that no one ever knows (I could have been more likely to have been in a car accident on the way home). That’s why it is so important to begin the simple process of getting your planning documents in order… getting them in black and white.
Why?
The number one reason is to have the peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out if something were to go wrong. It allows you to feel more in control, and I know that it would greatly reduce stress on my family if I were to have a major health problem or even if I died.
My father recently passed away suddenly and I now better understand the stress that even a close family can be put under in that situation. Most people want to respect the wishes of their loved one but in some cases, without proper planning documents in place, they either don’t know what they were OR they’re not legally able to act on those wishes. That would add so much extra stress in a time where the best of us aren’t coping.
In cases where a person doesn’t have planning ahead documents in place and they lose the capacity to make decisions, their family members or friends may need to apply to a court or tribunal to decide who will make decisions for them. That would be very frustrating and time consuming!
In some of the worst cases, people are incapacitated and loved ones are not able to act as they don’t have the legal authority. Imagine being in a coma, unable to make house repayments but also being unable to sell the house legally or quickly …. and then losing it. There are many horror stories so it is amazing that many people are not better prepared.
Where To Start?
As I found out in the days before my surgery, it’s easier than ever to get the documents in order and the best place to start is online at www.planningaheadtools.com.au – this NSW Government site gives you all the information you need to begin getting everything organised. You can download information there or you can make an appointment if you prefer.
If you don’t have access to a computer, there is an information line – 1300 887 529 where you can speak to someone and ask questions about completing your planning ahead documents. You can even have printed information mailed to you.
Getting professional legal help to draft these documents is the safest approach as they know what things you should include and they have some good ideas about what other people have put in place. I found that by going through the process it made me ask myself some really important questions and we were able to ensure everything was covered off properly.
Did I live to tell the tale?
As you may have guessed, everything went well and my shoulder is rebuilt (bionic arm now I told my kids) and I didn’t need to activate any of my planning documents (YAY!) … but I feel way better having that all sorted in case I ever need them in the future. I think it’s important while I have the capacity now to save my family stress and to remain in control of my critical life decisions if I’m ever not able to.
If you don’t have your own planning documents in place OR you need to update old documents, get it in black and white. Start today by visiting www.planningaheadtools.com.au
