Kentucky Living Will
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I sat down with our lawyer and updated our will and advance directives. I’m embarrassed to say, but we had not touched it in 10 years. It’s a conversation most of us put off for as long as possible. No one wants to think about death or being incapacitated…it’s depressing. Facing mortality is hard, but having these discussions and creating these legal documents are so important. We have 2 more children and now live in a different state, meaning the only will we had was probably useless. I am not a lawyer, nor am I giving legal advice, but I do want to talk a little bit about a living will and why I think it is so important to have one.
An advance directive is a written document that tells your doctors and loved ones what kind of medical care you want if you're ever unable to speak for yourself. Think of it as your voice in the room when you can't be there. It helps you make legally valid decisions about future medical treatment and giving you the opportunity to be specific about the care you wish to receive.
In Kentucky, an advance directive combines the attributes of a living will and a medical power of attorney into one document. That means you can both spell out your wishes about life-sustaining treatment and name a trusted person, also known as a healthcare surrogate, to make decisions on your behalf if needed. You get to decide how much or how little you complete based on your own situation and comfort level.
A medical crisis is already one of the most stressful things a family can go through. An advance directive doesn't just protect you; it protects the people you love from the burden of guessing what you would have wanted. It's genuinely one of the kindest things you can do for them. I urge you to have this discussion with your spouse, partner, adult child, etc so they know your wishes. Do you want all the things done or do you want comfort measures only?
In the state of Kentucky, you aren’t required to have a lawyer draw up your living will. The Kentucky Attorney General’s office has an entire packet you can fill out yourself. You just need to sign it in front of at least 2 witnesses or a notary public. A lot of times hospitals will have copies of advance directives and living wills that you can fill out while you are there. Usually they ask that before procedures, surgeries, and admissions. Once you have a signed will, make sure you have it in an important place and someone you trust knows where it is as well.
If you have any questions about end of life care, I am happy to speak to you about that. I can answer questions about life support, comfort measures, and CPR. If they are legal questions, I am happy to find a lawyer that can answer those questions.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a licensed attorney or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
