Seniors act to ease disability decisions
By MEGHAN GILBERT
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Nearly 20 seniors at the Mayores Senior Center in South Toledo each saved about $150 yesterday when they took advantage of free legal services.
The second of a five-day program through the attorney general's office, the Columbus Bar Association, and the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation placed lawyers at the center, 1 Aurora Gonzalez Drive, to answer questions about and help seniors fill out living wills and health-care power of attorney forms.
"I have to do it because I don't want to be in a state of not recovering, and I don't think it would be a good idea to be a burden," Antonio Gonzales, 58, of Toledo said. "A lot of people are scared to think about [death], but I'm not afraid of it. You never know, and it makes me feel more relaxed about it if you think that way."
A living will is a set of instructions as to what type of care a person would want in the event of becoming permanently un-conscious or terminally ill and unable to communicate.
If the decision is to not to be kept alive with medical technology, two physicians must agree there is no reasonable hope of recovery.
The latest edition of the living will includes a portion to specify organ and tissue donation with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
A health-care power of attorney appoints an agent to make medical decisions for another individual, even for temporary unconscious situations. It is separate from a financial power of attorney, which gives authority over financial or business decisions.
Ohio recognized the right to have a living will in 1991. If someone has both, a living will takes precedence over the health care power of attorney.
"Recently, with the Terri Schiavo matter through the media, there's been an increased interest across the state and country about whether a living will is something you want to have," said Yvonne Pollex, a senior deputy attorney general for Toledo's regional office. "It's really been a sea change. People have a high level of awareness."
The program through the attorney general's office is for low income seniors. The same legal services through private practice lawyers likely would cost about $150 an hour, Ms. Pollex said.
The free services drew Katie Craig to the center yesterday because she already planned on filing the paperwork. She spoke with her daughter the previous day to discuss what they were comfortable with.
"We discussed the whole Terri Schiavo thing, and I told my kids I don't want to be in that situation," Mrs. Craig said.
Contact Meghan Gilbert at:
mgilbert@theblade.com or
419-724-6050.
Source: Toledo Blade
Senior Citizen Aticles | Legal Disability
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