When people in Florida think of estate planning, they typically may consider a will and perhaps a trust. But a thorough estate plan encompasses a wide array of instruments that can provide security and peace of mind in the latter stages of a person's life. The disposal of one's property is only one well-known aspect to estate planning. What sort of medical care you want to receive and who can make health care decisions on your behalf are essential components of a complete estate plan.

Two documents in particular that many people may not have considered are a designation of health care surrogate and a living will. The designation of a health care surrogate appoints a person you trust to have the authority to make decisions regarding your medical care if you are unable to make them yourself. This document goes hand in glove with a living will, which expresses the level of medical care you want to receive. If you do not want to undergo extraordinary life-prolonging measures in the hospital, a living will articulates those wishes and allows the health care surrogate to see that the health care provider follows your instructions.

The recent case of an elderly woman illustrates how effective these documents can be in providing a graceful end to a person's life. At 96, she had lived a long and productive life. But the onset of unbearable pain, accompanied by a bout of pneumonia, assured that she would not live independently again. In anticipation of this event, she had signed documents that stated that she wanted her health care providers to manage her pain, but to provide no other medical care. She died the way she wanted, in peace and surrounded by family and friends.

Research shows that a significant majority of people want to die at home, without the intervention of extraordinary life-prolonging measures. But nearly a third of elderly deaths occur in the intensive care unit. In 2005, 43 percent of deaths among those aged 65 or older occurred in hospitals or ambulances.

But a designation of a health care surrogate and a living will are for people of all ages. Although it may be unpleasant to think about, accidents occur unexpectedly and it is best to be prepared for any eventuality. Hospitals default to providing the greatest amount of care available, and often family members push for that level of care. But a designation of a health care surrogate and a living will can ensure that your wishes, and not those of somebody else, are followed when it comes to your medical care.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, "Sacramento woman, 96, gives family the gift of planning her own peaceful death," Anita Creamer, Jan. 29, 2012.