Week 4: Called to Prepare - Why Estate Planning Is the Final Gift of Caregiving
As this “Called to Care” series comes to a close, I want to talk about something that isn’t always emotional or inspirational—but it is urgent. And it's one of the most powerful ways we love and protect the people who depend on us:
Getting your affairs in order.
Because caregiving doesn’t just happen in hospital rooms or at the bedside. It also happens in courtrooms. In financial offices. In the quiet chaos that follows when no one knows what to do—because no one planned ahead.
I’ve lived it. I’ve had to be their voice when my brother Clint could no longer speak for himself because of Frontotemporal Dementia. I had to step in when our mother’s cancer returned and major surgery left her unable to advocate for her own care.
Let me be clear:
If your loved one becomes incapacitated, declared incompetent, falls into a coma, or is unable to communicate during surgery—without legal documents in place, your hands are tied.
The time to prepare is not when the crisis hits.
The time is now.
Here’s what every caregiver and every adult needs to have in place:
Power of Attorney (for finances and healthcare)
Advance Directives (also called a Living Will)
HIPAA Release Form (so you can access their medical info)
Last Will and Testament or Trust
Designated Healthcare Proxy or Surrogate
Documented funeral or end-of-life wishes
You don’t have to be an attorney to start these conversations—you just have to be brave.
Start by asking:
“If something happened tomorrow, who would you want to speak for you?”
“Do I know where your important documents are?”
“Have we written it down so no one has to guess?”
It may be uncomfortable now, but it will spare your family heartache later. And more than that—it gives your loved one peace, knowing their wishes will be honored with dignity.
Caregiving is more than managing today’s needs.
It’s planning for tomorrow’s unknowns.
If you’ve followed this series and felt called to care, then consider this your next step:
Be the one who starts the hard conversations.
Be the one who makes sure the papers are signed.
Be the one who ensures your loved one is heard—even when they can’t speak.
That, too, is caregiving.
And it’s one of the most loving legacies you can leave behind.
