Five Wishes: Living Will Online

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The long-term costs associated with living with a spinal cord injury can be substantial, and each family's situation is unique. Many individuals are primarily concerned with protecting current assets and managing daily living expenses.

Explore the resources below to develop a financial plan that supports ongoing needs for health and well being. These can range from learning how to qualify and apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). Learn how to continue employment and acquire added income without sacrificing medical benefits.

Other entitlement programs for individuals with disabilities, such as programs through departments of aging and disability or state waivers for spinal cord injury can help pay bills or subsidize costs for medical equipment and supplies, personal care attendants, home modifications, adaptive vans, adaptive recreation equipment, emergency response systems, and other environmental adaptations. For veterans, there are additional sources to support ongoing care as well as to continue educational pursuits.

Private foundations are another source of financial support for persons living with spinal cord injury. Special needs grants are available which support costs for assistive technology, adaptive recreational equipment and other non-medical needs. Other local, state and federal programs that support quality of life and daily living for persons with disabilities are available.

Parents of children and adults with spinal cord injury may also find it helpful to learn about Special Needs Trusts to ensure that financial needs will continue to be safeguarded throughout one’s lifetime. Privately funded non-profit charity programs for veterans, such as Salute, Inc. or the Wounded Warrior Program provided added sources of financial support for housing, employment, education, and mental health.

Five Wishes: Living Will Online Five Wishes is an online living will document provided by a non-for-profit organization called Aging with Dignity. It allows individuals to put their end-of-life wishes in their own words, rather than require state-written documents. Five Wishes is an easy-to-use document that helps express how you want to be treated if you are unable to speak for yourself. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it speaks to all needs: medical, personal, emotional, and spiritual. It also helps structure discussions with your family and physician. Often called the “living will with a heart and soul,” the Five Wishes document is the most widely used advance directive or living will in America. Click on the Preview box to review details of Five Wishes.