Resources, Benefits, and Guides to Empower End-of-Life Planning

 

Why This Matters to You

Planning for end-of-life in advance is important for ensuring your wishes are respected regardless of the circumstances, but it's also a way for you to care for your loved ones even after you are gone. It ensures the proper documents are available, your wishes are clear, and fewer decisions need to be made during an already stressful time. 

Planning for death can seem like a daunting task. Like any big project, it is much more approachable if broken down into pieces. Below we'll explore a checklist of considerations, benefits, and resources to aid in planning. This page will give you a solid starting place and give you the tools you need to map out your wishes. 

 

Where Do I Begin?

It may look like a conversation with a spouse, a call to your lawyer, or a simple list on sticky note. Planning for end-of life is not something you should expect to sit down and complete in one session, so it's okay to start small. 

The Main Topics to Consider

• Important Documents and Information- insurance information, SSN, birth certificate, military records...
• Financial and Material Considerations- bank information, estate planning, inheritance
• End-of-Life Care- treatment- location of care, decision-making
• Burial and Funeral Plans- location, preferences, securing a plot

 

Many people begin end of life planning by talking to a loved one. This allows them to understand your wishes, be involved in some decisions, and learn about available resources. AARP provides some helpful advice and resources on starting this conversation.

That conversation should be followed up by assessing what still needs to be discussed, the topics needing more conversation and clarity, and most importantly, documenting wishes and laying out plans with legal backing where possible.

 

Important Documents

Gathering important documents like insurance information, DD214 and other service records, medical records, and passwords is an important first step in ensuring your loved ones have the tools they need to assist and support you through whatever is ahead. 

The National Institute on Aging offers an excellent resource for what type of documents you'll want to consider compiling. Veterans will want to ensure specific service documentation is accounted for and accessible. If you cannot find the documents you need, such as your DD214, you can request records from the U.S. DVA. Once you locate these documents and information, store them in a safe place and be sure to inform a loved one or your attorney where they are located.

 

Financial and Material Considerations

When a South Carolina resident dies, probate is the legal process used to settle the estate. In the absence of a Will or Living Trust, assets will be distributed to next of kin based on South Carolina probate code. Depending on if there are disputes, this process can be relatively quick, or it may take a significant amount of time to settle. For this reason, it is important to create a will or living trust to ensure important assets, property, or financial resources are not tied up in legal proceedings or given people other than whom you wish to inherit them. South Carolina Legal Services offers free legal assistance to qualifying South Carolinians and is a great resource for more information on the function and importance of a Will or Living Trust and the steps you need to take to ensure your wishes are carried out. It is important to note that a Will is still handled through the probate process whereas a living trust circumvents the probate entirely. This is not the only difference between the two, but it is an important distinction. In addition to a Will or trust, you should consider designating a durable power of attorney, this person will be able to make financial decisions if you are unable to. The VA offers life insurance specifically for Veterans, that may be worth checking out.

 

End-of-Life Care

Planning for health care and defining what a "good" death looks like is a vital step in end-of-life planning, but confronting uncomfortable possibilities and uncertainty can be taxing. We often cannot predict how we are going to die or what care we will need leading up to that. However, do have to power to create a framework for decision-making that allows others to support us and understand our wishes.

The Conversation Project offers a workbook that walks you through the decisions and considerations needed to make an effective care plan. Though the guide is geared toward people who are already facing health challenges, it is a helpful resource for any phase of life. 

Advance directives or naming a durable power of attorney for health care are great ways to document your wishes or ensure a trusted person has the legal authority to make decisions in the event you cannot. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers information on advance care directives specifically for Veterans.

Care Resources

Some Veterans may qualify for care at one of South Carolina's six State Veteran Homes. Admission to these facilities is limited to Veterans who have been separated from the U.S. Armed Forces under general or honorable conditions and qualify as South Carolina citizens who are in need of skilled or intermediate nursing home care. To obtain additional information, or to apply for admission, contact your local county Veterans' affairs officer or the Veteran home. 

The level of care a person needs to have the best quality of life can vary from a few mobility aides to in-home care assistance and anything in between. For information on care resources, you can visit the South Carolina Department on Aging.

 

Burial and Funeral Plans

South Carolina is home to four national cemeteries and one state-run cemetery, M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery. A Veteran must have an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces and provide a copy of the DD-214 or Military Discharge showing character of discharge and dates of active service. For information on how to apply in advance of needing a plot, also called pre-need eligibility determination, click HERE. You can visit M.J. Dolly Cooper's website, linked above, to apply directly or get more information. For more information on VA benefits related to headstones, urns, flags, and more, click HERE.