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Winsted, MN 55395
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Herald Journal Publishing Inc.
Monday, Feb. 29, 2016
ESTATE, PRE-PLANNING,
AND SYMPATHY
–
G U I D E
–
About this section: why this topic?
When we were choosing
topics for special newspaper
sections, the idea of death and
dying was awkwardly proposed.
We publish sections on various topics – automotive, farm,
health and medical, weddings,
baseball, families, home and
yard, entertainment, etc.
This one was different. The
other subjects are generally
viewed positively. This one
makes us uncomfortable.
But slowly we realized, despite the discomfort, this topic
affects all people.
Everyone gets a turn. One
turn.
If you haven’t experienced
the death of someone close to
you yet, you will someday. The
only way you won’t is if you
happen to go first.
After choosing to highlight
Dale Kovar
this topic, we struggled with a
name – “Estate and Pre-Planning,” “Sympathy and Understanding,” “End of Life Issues,” or even outright “Death
and Dying.”
It’s a subject that many of
us like to avoid, but the issues
involving the last stages of life,
and death itself, are just as important as any others we face
along the way.
Death and dying is an industry – funeral homes, florists,
monuments, hospice care,
medical care to delay death, estate planning, counseling, life
insurance, and many more.
It’s a sensitive matter because we know the emotional
grief associated with it.
And it’s never easy. One day
Mom is here and gone the next,
or Dad withers away for many
months in medical facilities.
Whether sudden or prolonged,
the loss is painful.
I’ll never forget 20 years
ago when my uncle with colon
cancer entered hospice care. A
nurse asked him how he felt
about dying.
His response was: “It’s been
done before.”
We didn’t quite know if he
was joking or serious, or a
combination. But it was a simple, profound statement.
Christians have hope in the
knowledge of resurrection and
eternal life in a perfect place
– Heaven – without pain or
problems. All one has to do is
accept that gift.
“He will wipe every tear
from their eyes, and there will
be no more death or sorrow or
crying or pain. All these things
are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:4 (New Living Translation)
An obituary we carried in our
newspapers last year included a
quote from D. L. Moody which
sums it up nicely: “As soon as
you read in the newspaper that
I am dead, don’t believe it for
a minute. I will be more alive
than ever before.”
In the meantime, we have
today’s newspaper and our
“Estate, Pre-Planning, and
Sympathy” section. We hope
you find it of value.
Creating Advance Directives
Y
ou’ve heard advance directives mentioned
on TV medical dramas or on the news. But
what are they and how should you use them?
Chilson Funeral Home
How do you want to be remembered?
And who will tell your story?
Why do caring people Pre-arrange?
How many things have you insured
against in your lifetime?
Oddly enough, all the things we insure against
may never happen. But, when one talks about final
arrangements, the only certainty in life, no one thinks
to insure the inevitable. It only makes sense, for so
many reasons. We can answer any questions that you
have regarding pre-planning.
200 Fairlawn Ave W. • Winsted
(320) 485-4447
Advance directives are legally binding agreements that determine end-of-life
processes and include living wills and
medical powers of attorney.
It is important to note that emergency
personnel cannot honor advance directives. Once on duty, they must exercise every effort to stabilize a person for transfer
to a hospital.
Advance directives can be implemented
only after a physician fully evaluates the
person’s physical state and determines the
underlying conditions.
What you should know
Advance directives are legally valid
throughout the United States, according
to the National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization (NHPCO.org). Even if
the directive isn’t drafted by an attorney,
your documentation becomes legally valid
upon you signing them in front of the required witnesses.
If you do decide to seek the services of
an attorney, be sure to ask about compliance regulations and standards in your
state.
State-by-state
The way advance directives work in one
state are not always the same as another.
Many states will honor out-of-state directives if they are similar enough to their
own law, but the difference between state
requirements can be confusing.
Check with your state officials to
get updated information on advance di-
rectives. The NHPCO recommends that
people who spend large amounts of time
in multiple states should complete the directives in all of them.
Do advance directives expire?
Advance directives do not expire but
can be invalidated if a new one is com-
pleted. Experts urge you to periodically
review your advance directives to ensure
their alignment with your wishes, which
can change as life progresses.
If you want to edit your documents, then
you should complete a whole new draft.
• Business Planning
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Consulting
STOP BY OR CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT
107 2nd St. S. • PO Box 40 • Winsted, MN 55395
320-485-2191 • [email protected]