End of Life - Simms Law Firm

Good News! It’s cheap to die in Florida!

A recent Fox News report quoted a list of the 10 most expensive states to die in after figuring the median out-of-pocket funeral costs and median end-of-life medical care in each of them. It is not surprising that the two of the most expensive states to live in – California and New York – are also in this list.

The top 10 states that will cost more to die in are, from least to most:

Rhode Island
- Average funeral expenses: $9,269
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $16,398
New Jersey
- Average funeral expenses: $9,712
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $17,181
Connecticut
- Average funeral expenses: $9,914
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $17,538
Maryland
- Average funeral expenses: $10,069
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $17,812
Alaska
- Average funeral expenses: $10,084
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $17,840
Massachusetts
- Average funeral expenses: $10,216
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $18,073
Oregon
- Average funeral expenses: $10,418
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $18,430
New York
- Average funeral expenses: $10,799
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $19,103
California
- Average funeral expenses: $11,777
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $20,834
Hawaii
- Average funeral expenses: $14,975
- Average end-of-life medical costs: $26,492

Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more.

This blog post is not case-specific and is provided only for educational purposes and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Blog topics may or may not be updated and entries may be out-of-date at the time you view them.

Do You Have a Living Will?

Clients come to my office to talk with me about planning for incapacity and death. These are hard conversations to have, even in an elder law attorney’s office.

Of all the documents that I prepare, the Living Will, gives my clients the most trouble.

This document, a dying declaration, states what kind of end-of-life care you want when there is no medical probability of recovery. Most people do not want to be kept alive artificially.

But what does that mean? Do you want a feeding tube? Hydration? Blood transfusion? How far are you willing to go? And what about dementia? Do you want to be force fed when you no longer have hunger or the ability to feed yourself?

And who should be your advocates or decisions makers? A family member (who might not be willing to let you go) or a medical person that you trust?

Knowing your legal rights and putting them in writing will help ensure that your wishes are met.

An elder law attorney can help guide you through this difficult conversation.

Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more.

AFTER THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE

After a spouse has died, it can seem impossible to focus on the details, let alone make important decisions. Here is a list of what should not be delayed:

Connect with attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors
Secure your finances – most importantly find out what assets are immediately available to you
File paperwork to claim insurance proceeds and retirement funds
Locate the Will and/or Trust

Later on, focus on:

Estate administration- are there are tax returns to file? Is a probate needed?
Analyze assets and cash flow needs – take a closer look at the full picture of assets available presently and in the future. Have you inherited IRA’s? Should a new investment adviser be consulted?
Do you need to update your own estate plan? Have you updated your beneficiary designations on your IRA’s and life insurance?

As you move from short to long-term considerations, take the time you need to make these important decisions and create your own team of investment and legal advisors.

Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more.

END OF LIFE OPTIONS

One of the services that I offer my clients is a Living Will. This document is a legal declaration of what type of care your wish to have if you are in the end stage of life and there is no medical probability of recovery.

Many of my clients struggle with this document-typically it is because they cannot decide whether they would want a feeding tube or artificial hydration at the end stage.

Here are some common myths that contribute to this difficult decision along with the response of Tani Bahti, nurse:

Myth: If people don’t eat, they should get a feeding tube or they will starve to death.

The needs of the body and its ability to process food changes in the final months of life. People do not die because they are not eating, but rather they do not eat because they are dying. Complications due to forced feeding and the use of tube feedings can actually hasten dying.

Myth: Not drinking leads to painful dehydration.

Natural dehydration is comfortable and releases endorphins which promote comfort. Unlike in a healthy person, providing artificial fluids near the end of life may actually increase discomfort. Natural dehydration results in less chance of nausea and vomiting, swelling, and lung congestion.

Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more.

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Category Archives: End of Life

Do You Have a Living Will?

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