Staying Ahead of Life and Death Stakes During the Pandemic

It’s not everyday when we have to confront our own mortality. But the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed that. Some of us now have to live day-to-day, dealing with everything from maintaining our financial stability during a lengthy lockdown to making sure we don’t catch the virus itself.

The recent surge in cases has not made it any easier; and the pandemic situation in the country is still far from what could be considered controllable. Even worse, hospitals across the region are reaching maximum capacity, making it incredibly hard for those in need to receive proper medical care. This has resulted in an increase in the number of deaths recorded – numbers which we didn’t see last year.

That’s why I believe that now more than ever is an opportune time to prepare not only yourself but also your family, friends, and your business, if you own one, for the worst – your untimely death.

It’s not easy thinking about these things, as I’ve said before, but you have to acknowledge that there’s always a possibility that they could happen. Preparing for them while you’re still healthy lets you soften the impact it might have on you and your loved ones. At the end of the day, you’d surely rather be safe than sorry.

Have Discussions on Advanced Care

Prior to estate planning, you need to have discussions about advanced care with your family. This involves letting them know what medical interventions are to be administered to you when you’re in the process of dying.

In most cases, medical workers are instructed to immediately intubate or resuscitate you regardless of your chances of making it out alive, if you and your family are not able to tell them your wishes.

Sometimes, these interventions are unnecessary; they only prolong your suffering; and only add to your medical bill. This doesn’t mean that they’re not effective; they have worked for some people, albeit leaving them with long-term complications. It’s just that there are situations when it’s more practical to face reality than fight what is to be a losing battle.

Compose a Love Letter

There are probably countless things you want to say to the people who are important to you before you depart. But why just say them, when you could write them. You don’t really know when it’s your time to go; and you won’t always have the chance to have that last talk. So composing a love letter is always a good idea.

While it cannot replace a formal will, legally-speaking, a love letter can at least put your final wishes on paper. It’s a document that can indicate how you want your funeral rites to go; what of your possessions you want to leave to who; and, your last messages to your loved ones, among other affairs you want to take care of.

You can do this anytime because, unlike a will, it doesn’t necessarily have to cost anything or go through courts. You can even explore a different medium, such as a video recording, if you’re more comfortable with that.

What’s important is that everything you put in is well-documented. A letter should be handwritten; indicate the date, page number; and don’t forget to sign it. If it’s a video, be sure to state your name, date, and time of the recording. This cannot be overlooked as this document can be used as legal evidence in case of disputes.

However, if you have a large estate, there’s no alternative to a will or a revocable trust. If that’s the case, be sure to call your attorney to discuss how you’ll manage your assets.

It might be more challenging to do this while social distancing, but, again, it’s never too early to have an estate plan in place, especially during a pandemic. Just be sure you don’t let your emotions get the best of you when making decisions; clear your mind; and be calm. Better yet, have a third party with no personal interest to walk you through everything; that way you’re not making any rash and spur of the moment decisions.