{ from the editor } by Douglas Wyckoff, DDS • Editor The Best Time to Plan is Now M


ost of my writings here are inspired by day-to-day happenings at meetings, the office or in my personal


life. This edition is no different. The last few weeks for my wife, Melinda, and I have included daily visits to a hospital. A family member had a life-changing medical condi- tion that has required a lengthy stay in the hospital and hopefully will be followed by time in a rehabilitation facility. This began on a routine Sunday afternoon when we received a call that our loved one had been found on the floor of her home, barely re- sponsive. Best we can determine, she was in that position for at least 48 hours. Paramed- ics were already in place taking her to the hospital for treatment and evaluation.


When we arrived at the hospital with all our legal paperwork in hand, we immediately were greeted by staff and started the process of entering her into their system. One of the first questions was about whether she had a DNR order or not. Confidently we said yes and started to pull out all the paperwork that had been completed a couple of years ago. We were sure we had all our I’s dotted and Ts crossed … until we realized that in all this pa- perwork, somehow Power of Attorney rights for medical purposes had been overlooked. We were not able to tell them that she did not want to be intubated, nor did she want resuscitation in case of cardiac arrest. In a swing of good fortune, she was able to make it through the initial stages without event and was able to sign directives to correct that a few days later.


All of this has weighed very heavily on my mind and with ample time to think about what we have experienced, I feel the need to at least jiggle your brain cells to think about what happens in the event you have a medical emergency or pass away. What would happen if today you had a stroke, heart attack, serious accident or otherwise


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medial affairs. There are different types of POA which deal with when they go into effect. They types are: non-durable, immediate and durable, and springing. Also, it is important to note there are financial and healthcare POA.


that rendered you unconscious and unable to make decisions for yourself? Does your fam- ily have the legal documents needed to tell medical personal your wishes for intubation, resuscitation or life support? What would your family be able to do if the event was so tragic that you passed suddenly? What would happen to your office, home, autos, personal belongings? How would your family know what they should do with your assets, and do they have the ability to take over and make those decisions without having to go through probate court?


I know thinking and talking about our own death or debilitation isn’t comfortable, but its something we must prepare for to ensure those around us aren’t caught scrambling under stress to make decisions that impact what you have left behind. I am definitely not an expert on this subject and in no way is what I am discussing here a complete list of things to think about. It would be money well spent to make time to speak with your attorney and accountant to make sure your family has the least amount of stress possible in handling these issues. Here are some ideas of things you should consider in preparing for an event that makes it impossible for you to take care of your health and/or assets:


• Power of Attorney: This is documenta- tion of the appointment of someone you trust to handle your financial and


• Last Will and Testament or Living Trust: This spells out who receives as- sets after death. It can also list a guard- ian for minor children. A living trust is similar, with the exception that a trust can allow your heirs to avoid probate court. Again, this needs to be counseled by an attorney.


• Inventory Everything: Home, auto, jew- elry, furniture, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts. • Digital Information: Many would overlook this. Think about your phone, computer or any other technology you use. In the day of social media, apps and other technology, we use passwords and login information that others would have no clue about. Document these and keep them in a safe place so that an executive knows where to find them. This includes banking information.


• Document Your Wishes: Have a written game plan on the how’s, what’s, when’s and where’s for those who will be taking care of your estate. Making sure they know where to find important docu- ments and information just discussed is extremely important.


The best time to plan these things is now. You’re not too young or too old to think about all of this. While we appreciate and are thankful for every day, tomorrow is not promised. Our normal daily lives can change in a heartbeat. Do yourself and your family a favor; make plans for what happens when you can’t make these impor- tant decisions.


Contact Dr. Wyckoff at editor@ modental.org.


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