At a minimum you should give your physician, including primary care physician and specialist such as your oncologist or cardiologist, a copy of your advanced directives.  Often overlooked is giving a copy to the named agent(s).  I suggest scanning the document and e-mail a copy to family members so that it can be accessed in a time of crises even from a smart phone.

On a regular basis clients tell me that they do not own a safety deposit box because they are "too expensive."  Most prefer to have a lock box or small safe.  I remembered those comments as I watched the terrible flooding that destroyed many, many homes.  The rushing waters carried priceless items and too many lives down the canyons. 

In the weeks following the floods at least one client told me that I had convinced her that it was penny wise and pound foolish to keep documents in a home lock box.  She now has a safety deposit box for an annual fee of $45.00.  That is a small price for piece of mind.

The Salt Lake City Tribute had a fascinating article about a professor who was paralyzed in a bike accident in 2008.  He lived in his home, continued teaching, all while using a ventilator to breath for him.  In August he decided to remove the ventilator and die peacefully.  This article give a rare insight into the deeply personal decision to end medical treatment. 


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56725058-78/brooke-peggy-hopkins-says.html.csp?page=1

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have announced a cut to providers of long-term care.  The cuts will affect nursing homes that provide rehabilatative services.