estate-planning-caring-for-elderly-parents

Estate Planning – Caring for Elderly Parents

estate-planning-caring-for-elderly-parents

Since 1900, life expectancy for Australians has increased by over 30 years. The average life expectancy of a newborn girl used to be 51 years. Now it is 84 years. But how do we care for our elderly relatives once they begin to lose the ability to care for themselves?

Over the past 125 years there have been massive changes in our health and lifestyle. What Australians now die of, and the age at which they die, is very different to what it used to be. Up until 1932, infectious and parasitic diseases caused at least 10% of all deaths each year, with death rates from these diseases highest among the very young and very old. Improvements in living conditions, such as better water supplies, sewerage systems, food quality and health education, have led to overall lower death rates and longer life expectancy at all ages.

Genders and Partners

The Right to Choose Gains Momentum in South Australia

The Right to Choose Gains Momentum

End of life decisions are filled with emotion, and religious, ethical and philosophical issues ignite debate.

Some form of human euthanasia or assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Albania and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, Montana and California.

Euthanasia is currently illegal in every state and territory of Australia. For a brief period, it once was legal in the Northern Territory, by the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995. However in 1997, the Australian Federal Government overrode the Northern Territory legislation through the introduction of the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997.

Around the world, an increasing number of states and countries are allowing people to choose for themselves.

Advance Care Directives Maximising your Quality of Life

Advance Care Directives: Maximising your Quality of Life

It is important for every adult person to create an Advance Care Directive to maximise their independence, dignity and quality of life.

Personal values, religious and cultural preferences can be recorded for when a person loses the ability to make decisions about their own accommodation and healthcare, including end-of-life decisions.