Most of us take for granted that we make our own decisions about money, health and lifestyle matters. But as we get older, ill health and disability become more of a possibility and may one day affect our ability to handle money and health decisions. There are several things you can do plan ahead for this situation, should it arise.
One important step is to sit down with family and other significant people in your life and tell them your wishes. Another is to think about whether you need to take any other steps ahead of time to protect your interests. You may prefer that family members look after your finances and make health decisions for you, if something happens to you. However there are situations in which family members cannot act on your behalf without prior legal authority. Or you may feel that leaving it to family members to make decisions on your behalf is not in your best interests, or theirs.
Speaking for myself: Planning for later life decision-making
Speaking for myself can help you take control of later life decisions. It is a short booklet that explains in straightforward language what steps you can take to make sure your future interests are in good hands and make sure that things will be done the way you want. It explains how to make arrangements for a trusted family member or friend of your choosing to make decisions for you, should something happen.
Speaking for myself was produced by The Benevolent Society in partnership with Legal Aid NSW. The legal information it contains is based on current NSW legislation. If you live outside NSW you should seek legal advice in your own state. Download a copy.
How to order copies of Speaking for myself
You can bulk order copies of this booklet via the Legal Aid NSW website here. Simply enter "Speaking for myself" in the keyword search box, wait for the publication to load, then enter the number of copies you would like to order next to the publication, click "order" to confirm the quantity and then provide your delivery details on the following page.
To order individual copies you can follow the instructions above, or email publications@legalaid.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9219 5028.
My Health, My Future, My Choice: An Advance Care Directive for NSW
An advance care directive (sometimes called a "living will") is a way of recording your health and personal care instructions for family members, doctors and other healthcare workers. It allows you to record now the type of care and treatment you would want if, in the future, you are unable to communicate or if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.
My Health, My Future, My Choice: An Advance Care Directive for New South Wales is published by the Advance Care Directive Association Inc with assistance from The Benevolent Society. It explains what advance care directives are, how they can be useful and includes a form designed to make it as simple as possible for people to record their wishes. It costs $14. Download an order form or go to www.advancecaredirectives.org.au.
More information
- How could they? Information for older women about wise steps they can take to protect themselves from getting into financial difficulties, Older Women's Network NSW
- Information and factsheets for older people, including for older people in Aboriginal communities and in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, NSW Department of Family and Community Services