Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
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Preparing for our journey's end helps to fulfill our wishes, provide comfort to those we love, and allow time to celebrate a life. out from underneath you with that document," Feigenbaum cautions. A trusted advisor would likely recommend the Springing Power of Attorney document that assigns those rights only in the event that the grantor is incapacitated and only after two doctors have verified the grantor's incapacity. What other words of wisdom are there? "Don't put your head in the sand," Dole offers. "Start early and don't be obtuse about the conversation." Goodman would agree: "Make this a kitchen table conversation rather than one that takes place in an ICU. Our attempts to protect one another keep us from having this conversation and, as a result, we can end up alone and uncertain." Feigenbaum adds, "we procrastinate, thinking this process is quite an undertaking, but the truth of the matter is everything that we are talking about here does not take that long to complete. Once the conversation(s) have been had and the associated documentation is in place, dis- " tribute copies to family members, doctors, and keep a copy in a readily accessible envelope—not in a safety deposit box. "You'll need these materials within the first 36 hours of an emergency situation, when you won't want the anxiety of trying to locate or sign these documents," Feigenbaum advises. Finally, put your affairs in order so that you don't burden your children with the task. "Planning or lack of planning will be the last message that you will leave your chil- dren," Feigenbaum says. Dole is taking that advice to heart and is making sure that her own planning is complete along with that of her parents. "It's a gift that I am giving my children," she explains. "All I ask in return is that when the time comes, they make sure that I am actually gone and not just napping. " 83 winter 2012/2013 | WellesleyWeston Magazine PHO T O GRAPHY BY PETER BAKER