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Sscience has made strides in prolonging life of seniors but has failed to see that prolonged life has quality. A visit to an old age home is testimony to this rather disturbing situation.
In days gone by the longest one lived was around sixty but today it is no longer a surprise to see people living even to reach a hundred - it is better to say they exist and not live.
The joint family system is a thing of the past with more and more youngsters leaving the shores seeking greener pastures and the old are left alone to fend for themselves.
Old age homes are mushrooming and for some they are the only alternative.
With both mind and body in a debilitating condition most just exist and do not live Given a choice most would want to go but the care givers are forced to keep them alive giving the best medical treatment much to their own discomfort as taking care of seniors is the most arduous task
That is when a Living Will gets weightage.
It is a Will that a person writes about the kind of treatment they would want to receive if they lose their sebses and are no longer able to speak
This Will normally includes what type of treatment one would want to undergo or even refuse any treatment that will only prolong one’s life which means the declarant would want to go peacefully rather than just linger and exist
A mention is also made about the finances available or not available, the hospital where one would want to be admittied, and who the caretaker would be.
The Living Will may also include the name of a relgious representative who shoul d be made available.
In some countries Euthanesia is permitted and the Living Will may also include this choice.
My neighbour is taken care of by his daughter and he is in a vegetative state since the last 25 years. They are financially well off but the question is if had the choice to prepare a Living Wll when he was in his senses wounder if his choice would be to linger like this just lying in bed – not being able to see, hear,talk being taken care of by female home nurses who feed him, bathe him, and clean him.
Today’s seniors who cannot fend for themselves are a load on society
Looking at the situation today most are languishing getting treatment that only prolongs their life offering no respite that will put them back on their feet, both mentally and physically and the kind of treatment that is meted out is decided by the care givers.
Here is a format of a Living Will designed by a professional
https://www.lawdistrict.com/living-will/
