Moving to a senior independent living community? It is a great way to spend your golden years! Now that you will be free from the responsibilities of maintaining a home, you can finally find the time to do all the things you love while enjoying the company of family and peers. Before you move to the senior living community, make sure you have all your documents in order. There are 5 must-have legal documents that will help seniors and their families avoid unnecessary confusion and stress. See a brief overview below. Paperwork to Prepare While Moving into a Senior Living Community
  1. A Will: This legal document clearly spells out how you would like your property and assets to be distributed after your demise. You can also designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out. Not having a will leaves the decision to the government and may result in the wrong people inheriting your assets after you.
  2. Legal Power of Attorney: This allows you to authorize an individual you trust, to make decisions regarding your finances, property, tax, etc. when you are not capable of doing so yourself.
  3. HIPAA Authorization: As per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), doctors cannot share any details about your health with any of your children or family members without written consent from you. The HIPAA authorization form (also known as a medical release form) which can be found at your doctor’s office, authorizes your healthcare provider to discuss this important information with the family members you have named in it.
  4. Healthcare Proxy: Also referred to as a medical power of attorney, the healthcare proxy is a legal document (make sure you have the right one for your state) which stipulates who can make health-related decisions for you when you are not in a position to do so. This form must be prepared when you are still competent, so get it done as soon as possible.
  5. Advance Health Care Directive: This is a legal document in which you can make known your decisions about treatment and end-of-life-care before a medical situation occurs. Also known as a living will, the directive must clearly state the following:
  • If you want to be resuscitated when you stop breathing
  • Whether artificial life support should be used
  • Should a feeding tube be inserted
  • It can also specify types of treatment that you do not want in specific  circumstances
At Wesley Enhanced Living (WEL), we ensure that our seniors have everything they need, including providing them with important information to avoid unnecessary stress. Hundreds of families across Bucks, Delaware, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties trust us to look after their loved ones. WEL’s modern senior independent living residence is designed with your convenience in mind. Our elderly residents enjoy all the comforts of home with high quality services and amenities for an active and healthy lifestyle. 93% of our residents feel that their lives have improved while living in our community. This makes us proud and encourages us to improve our services even more. Hear what our residents have to say. Explore the range of options our senior living communities have to offer. One of our representatives will be happy to give you a tour and discuss your needs. Wesley Enhanced Living is an independent living community trusted by hundreds of families across Philadelphia. Please visit us to know more or click here to request more information today.