Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 31, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller How to Make Sure Your Endof-Life Wishes Are Followed Dear Savvy Senior, I had a living will/advance directive prepared about 10 years ago documenting my end-oflife medical wishes, but I’ve read that these documents are often ignored. What can you tell me about this? --Troubled Tina Dear Tina, Yes, unfortunately, that can happen. Living wills aren’t always followed in practice, most often because the document isn’t available when it’s needed or never reaches the right people in time. They can also fall short because they aren’t medical orders, and the language may be too vague to guide doctors in an emergency. That doesn’t mean your wishes won’t be honored, but it does mean a little extra planning can help prevent confusion later. Here’s how to make sure your wishes are followed. Advance directive + POLST About 40 percent of older Americans have an advance directive. This typically includes a living will that spells out the care you want if you become incapacitated, and a health care power of attorney (or proxy) who is authorized to make decisions on your behalf. To strengthen those instructions, talk with your doctor about completing a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) – sometimes called MOLST or POST depending on your state. Unlike a living will, this is a doctor-signed medical order that must be followed by EMTs and hospital staff. It translates your wishes into clear instructions for treatments such as CPR, breathing machines, and feeding tubes. These interventions can save lives but may also cause harm if you are very ill or frail. Discussing them ahead of time helps you weigh the trade-offs and makes it easier for your family to understand your choices, easing stress if decisions must be made quickly. Even if you already have an advance directive, adding a POLST can make your wishes clearer. Without one, first responders are generally required to attempt resuscitation and transport you to a hospital, where doctors may pursue aggressive treatment if your living will isn’t available or specific enough. Once your POLST is completed, make sure it is easy to find. Keep a copy on the refrigerator, carry one in your wallet, and save a photo on your phone. Share copies with your health care proxy, family members, and physicians so everyone is aligned. It’s also wise to ask your providers to add the form to your electronic health record, since medical information isn’t always shared between hospitals and care facilities. These steps can make a real difference in helping ensure your wishes are followed. If discussing these issues with family feels difficult, websites like The Conversation Project (theconversationproject.org) and Prepare for Your Care (prepareforyourcare.org) offer helpful guidance. One final note: if you’re planning surgery, you may want to temporarily suspend your POLST in case your heart stops briefly during the procedure. And if you haven’t yet created an advance directive, you can do so for free at caringinfo.org or mydirectives.com, or for a small fee – $5 to $7.50 – at fivewishes.org. Taking these steps now can help ensure your wishes are followed and ease the burden on your loved ones later. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Manager Nolan Bagley (at left) and the Pilots team celebrated their 2026 Malden Babe Ruth League Playoff Championship, following a 10-3 win over the defending champ Flames at Kezer Field at Pine Banks Park on July 22. The Pilots include (not in order) Jaylen Riversa-Fuentes, who was the winning pitcher and leading hitter (5 RBIs) in the final, M.J. Guida, Michael Squillante, Rafael Valencia, Ryan Brett, Antoine Alce, DeAndre West, Dmitri Kotsopolous, Marc Chan, Frank Toscano and Jackson Atanavoski. (Advocate Photo) Pilots win 2026 Malden Babe Ruth Baseball Championship PROBATE COURT CLOSING STATEMENT Form MPC 850 is the mechanism for formally closing the estate. The Personal Representative A Closing Statement can be filed by the Personal Representative of an estate with a Massachusetts probate court by using Form MPC 850. This is done to formally close the estate. The Personal Representative is confirming that all debts, taxes and distributions to beneficiaries of the estate have been handled properly. This is pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 193B, Section 3-1003. The Personal Representative is certifying to the court that the estate has been fully administered, including the payment of debts, income taxes, estate taxes and expenses, and that assets have been distributed to the rightful beneficiaries in the proper amounts and manner. must also provide notice and a full accounting to distributees, creditors or other claimants whose claims are unpaid or not barred by statute. The Personal Representative of the estate is certifying under the pains and penalties of perjury that the information is accurate to the best of his or her knowledge and is ensuring to the court that there is no court order or pending proceeding that would prevent the estate from being formally closed. The Personal Representative is also stating that the administration of the estate is not being formally supervised by the Probate Court. Once the Closing Statement is filed with the Probate Court, if there are no proceedings involving the Personal Representative within one year from the date of filing, the Closing Statement generally cannot be challenged, except for fraud or manifest error. A Closing Statement provides legal protection for the Personal Representative and assurance to the estate beneficiaries that the estate has been property settled. The Personal Representative is also stating that the creditor claim period for the estate has expired. Creditors have one year from the date of death to file a complaint with a court of law having proper jurisdiction in order to bring an action against the estate for a claim. MassHealth has to be notified of any probate proceeding via certified mail. If MassHealth has a claim for Medicaid benefits paid to the decedent during life, it will send a letter to the attorney representing the estate setting forth the balance of the unpaid claim. If the decedent was on MassHealth for heath insurance benefits while living at home, and was age 55 or older while receiving those benefits, MassHealth will seek to recover amounts paid against the decedent’s probate estate. This is another good reason to utilize Trusts as part of one’s estate plan. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation.
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