By: Stephen R. Elville – Principal and Lead Attorney of Elville and Associates, P.C.
Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day. According to the Five Wishes website, www.fivewishes.org, “National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is a nationwide initiative that encourages adults of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis.” If you live in Maryland, you should learn about and understand healthcare decision making in Maryland and what it means for you. Go to www. marylandattorneygeneral.gov. To test your healthcare decision making literacy, begin by asking yourself the following questions: (1) Do I have an advance medical directive?; (2) Have I expressed my thoughts, ideas, goals, values, and concerns about my healthcare decision making to my loved ones or other people who will serve as my healthcare agents?; (3) Do I know the location of my advance medical directive, have I made a copy available to my agent(s), and have I made photocopies of the originals?; (4) Do I have a basic understanding of healthcare decision making policy in Maryland, including MOLST?; and (5) Do I understand the digital archive choices that are available to store my healthcare documents and make them available 24/7, along with MIDEO? Healthcare decision making – it’s one of the essential elements of estate planning.
Are you taking the time to think about your healthcare decision making?
Stephen R. Elville is the principal and lead attorney of Elville & Associates, P.C., a leading estate planning, elder law, and special needs planning law firm in Maryland. Elville and Associates engages clients in a multi-step educational process to ensure that estate, elder law, and special needs planning works from inception, throughout lifetime, and at death. Clients are encouraged to take advantage of the Planning Team Concept for leading-edge, customized planning. The education of clients and their families through counseling and superior legal-technical knowledge is the practical mission of Elville and Associates. If you would like to set an appointment with Mr. Elville to discuss estate or elder law planning issues, you may contact him at 443-393-7696, or via email at steve@elvilleassociates.com. #elvilleeducation