Advanced Healthcare Directives For Seniors

Advanced Healthcare Directives For Seniors

If something unexpected happens, you will want to know your wishes will be carried out if you are unable to express those wishes. The best way to make sure your desires are carried out is to write them down.

Although a survey by the Pew Research Center shows that the majority of people agree they have a right to decide what kind of medical treatment they receive, only 27 percent put their wishes in writing.

Living Will

A legal document used to tell family and medical professionals what life-sustaining procedures – if any – you would like to be used on you. It can also describe whether you’d like healthcare workers to take measures to prolong your life.  A living will is used when you are unable to otherwise communicate your wishes in regard to life-saving medical treatment.  This advanced directive addresses the kind and extent of medical treatment you want if you become incapacitated and are unable to speak for yourself.  It can include instructions on resuscitation measures, life-sustaining equipment such as a ventilator and whether you will receive a blood transfusion.

Power of attorney
A legal document that enables you to designate someone (known as your attorney-in-fact) to make certain legal, financial and healthcare-related decisions on your behalf.  This document appoints someone to make health care decisions for you if you are incapable of making your wishes known. This agent can make decisions such as if or when to remove feeding tubes or other medical equipment. The benefit of a health care POA is that he or she can make decisions in situations that may not be covered in other advanced directives.

Having this information written down can alleviate confusion among family members. If you already have a living will, durable power of attorney and other legal documents, it is a good idea to have them reviewed to make sure they are still valid. Sometimes laws change, and documents that are several years old may not include all of the current legal requirements. With the growth in an aging population, longer life spans and advances in medical technology, having advance directives is more important than ever before.

For more information visit: http://www.seniorlivingrockies.com/legal.htm

Thank you to Andrea Rosen andrearosen@ezlaw.com and EZLaw for contributions to this blog.