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In addition, you get to make decisions surrounding your comfort, your dignity and other requests you have — no matter how specific they are.

  In addition, you get to make decisions surrounding your comfort, your dignity and other requests you have — no matter how specific they are. Paul Malley told me during our interview that often the questions that seem the least important wind up impacting families most. Examples include questions regarding pain management and what it takes for someone to feel comfortable, clean and warm. For example, would you rather die at home if given the choice? Do you want music playing? Do you want people with you? “Those little things may sound small, but I can tell you from the messages we receive that this is where the true gift is,” says Malley. Five Wishes in Practice Malley says he has heard many stories over the years that have proven just how important having a living will is, but one that comes to mind involves a gentleman who had a stroke and became incapacitated overnight. After speaking to the wife of this man (let’s call her Mrs. Smith) once final arrangements were made, Malley ...

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

  Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. This is where Five Wishes comes in and why I interviewed Paul Malley — president of Aging with Dignity, the organization that created Five Wishes — on the Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast. In case you’ve never heard of it, Five Wishes is a document that lets you decide your final wishes as well as how you’ll be treated if you ever become seriously ill. The main point of Five Wishes is letting you make decisions about the end of your life just in case you cannot make them yourself. After all, you may wind up knowing months ahead of time that you’re at death’s door, but the worst can also happen in the blink of an eye. How Does Five Wishes Work? Think of it as a living will — or as a conversation piece you can use to collect all your end-of-life wishes in a single place. Five Wishes is a legal document in all states but eight. Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Utah all require...