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ADVANCE DIRECTIVESMost states recognize two documents as advance directives. They are the Living Will and the Power of Attorney for Health Care. It is important that you check with your state to find out the specific form used. I suggest you contact your local hospital, your attorney (although it is not necessary to have attorney for advance directives), your local senior center or the Area Agency on Aging in your area and request a copy of these two documents.
The Living Will is not a legal document but shows what you
would want done if there was a question about the ending of your life and you
were not able to communicate your wants to others. It shows your intention.
Usually you can simply fill out the state form and have it witnessed by
two people (preferably someone who will not benefit by your death). It usually is a very simple and
straightforward document. It is
important to realize that the Living Will is physician-driven which means it
will not go into effect until a physician decides that the patient is
terminal. Many people think that if
they have a living will they are protected from extra-ordinary methods of
treatment or invasive procedures but that is not the case. The doctor will decide whether or not to
invoke the Living Will. The Power of Attorney for Health Care is a legal document. Again, it is straightforward and easy to complete. You appoint only one agent to act for you and carry out your wishes. There is usually space for successor agents to be added if for some reason the specified agent cannot or will not act. There is space for you to fill in anything specific you do or do not want done, i.e. no ventilator or no feeding tubes. You usually do not have to fill this area in unless you feel strongly about something and want to do so. There are usually 3 statements and you need to initial only one of them to signify what should be done. One states that everything possible should be done. The other two are similar but the main difference is that one specifies being in a coma and the other doesn’t. There are many conditions where someone may not be able to communicate such as aphasia (unable to speak or comprehend what is being said) and yet not be in a coma. These statements may vary somewhat depending upon your state laws so read them carefully. Usually, there is a statement about when the document goes into effect (I usually suggest “immediately”) and when it ends (again I suggest “upon my death”). I suggest that you make copies of the original documents and make sure your doctor has a copy, your children, and your attorney and then keep several extra copies at home. Put a note on the refrigerator as to where the copies are kept and then put the originals in a safe place. During an emergency, people will not remember where these documents are kept; trust me. So, a note on the refrigerator will be a good reminder and will be available and out in the open. If you called the paramedics, they will need to see the documents or they will resuscitate. In Illinois, the paramedics do not have to resuscitate if the proper paperwork is available. Check with your local fire department or a hospice in the area to find out what your state laws say on this subject. Be sure to take a copy with you if you go to the hospital or have to be in a nursing home for rehabilitation. If you have any questions, contact your local Senior Center, Area Agency on Aging or your attorney. A fairly new approach that is available to people who are utilizing advanced directives comes from an organization called "Aging with Dignity". They publish FIVE WISHES, which is a detailed explanation of exactly what a person would like to have happen if they are in the end stages of life. It takes the place of the living will and power of attorney for health care and is much more specific. It includes the following wishes: 1. The person I want to make health care decisions for me when I can't make them for myself. 2. My wish for the kind of medical treatment I want or don't want. 3. My wish for how comfortable I want to be. 4. My wish for how I want people to treat me. 5. My wish for what I want my loved ones to know. It is straightforward and clearly worded and it will make a person really think about what they want or don't want in case they are in a terminal condition. I encourage everyone to seriously consider making this document a part of their important papers. You can reach Aging with Dignity by clicking on the hyperlink below. I found a lot of sites under this subject. Many are for specific states and a number were just repetitive of the basic information. You might want to try other search engines. I thought the following sites were help |
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Aging
Concepts |
