YOUR LONG-TERM CARE

There may come a time when you can no longer live on your own. If this happens, where would you want to live? It’s best to express how you feel about this before the necessity arises.

Some things to consider when discussing this include:

⬛ Would you want to live with your children? This may be a great solution for some but not for others, depending on your relationship. You may feel strongly about having your own space.

⬛ Would you want to live at home with

assistance, or would you prefer to be in an assisted-living environment? In either case, you’ll need to look at whether you can afford it. Any decisions around frail care are best discussed before it comes to that.

⬛ The state of your health. You need to give your children a realistic idea of your health, including any medical conditions and treatments you’re undergoing or plan to undergo – this may help them understand the reasons for certain decisions.

⬛ Whether you have medical aid and what your plan covers. It’s a good idea to review your medical aid options annually, based on your needs.

If you don’t have medical aid cover, talk to your children about how you plan to cover medical costs and whether you may need financial help. ⬛ Whether you have a living will (see p39). ⬛ Whether or not you want a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order – this is an instruction to healthcare workers not to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating. “This is a discussion to be had with your doctor and it should be done in writing,” Matshoza says.

“In the event of an emergency, your doctor may need to make quick decisions before having the opportunity to talk to your loved ones, so he will need to be aware of your DNR wishes,” Erasmus says.