This week is Will Awareness week to remind us to write or update our wills.

Here at hospice, we have three scenarios that play out weekly. 

A patient is admitted to the Inpatient Unit and has their Enduring Power of Attorney all sorted and their will all finalised, along with a memorandum of wishes – these are a list of favourite things the patient would like to go to someone but not necessarily noted in their will.

It may be a beloved ornament, that one of the grandchildren has expressed their like of, or even a leather jacket.

It's then up to the executor of the will to check to see if that person is really interested.

My Mum had one of these and it made sorting her house out so easy and so nice as we (my five siblings) each had things Tui wanted us especially to have. 

These patients are all sorted and when family come to spend their last few days with their loved one there is no pressure to get paperwork completed. 

The second type of patient may not have an EPoA but does have an old will which they would like to update.

We often see their lawyer coming into the Hospice to help the patients update their will with any changes to how their estate is to be distributed. 

Again, this is usually reasonably easy and both patients and family then have precious time to spend together as well. 

The third type of patient is one with no EPoA and no will.

Their lawyer will come into visit and do what they can, but the person must still be of a sound mind, and that at times is not the case.

This often means the family is ringing around trying to get the paperwork sorted rather than spending precious time with their loved one.

Please don’t be the third type or encourage your rellies not to be the third type. 

My message is then – if you haven’t yet had your will completed and all legally signed then this is the month to do it.

While you are getting this done you may like to think about leaving a bequest to Hospice Southland, this will assist us keep our service to Southlanders and Queenstown patients and their families free of charge. 

All the best 

Flora