I'm making the Advanced Healthcare Directive POA for my mother. Any of you guys have any pointers to add in the form that has been helpful for your loved ones in any institutions?
OBM - here are some links to info that might interest you.
Advance Care Planning: Healthcare Directives
What Is Advance Care Planning? Advance Care Planning Decisions Getting Started with Advance Care Planning Making Your Advance Care Wishes Known How to Choose Your Healthcare Proxy Making Your Healthcare Directives Official What to Do After You Set Up Your Advance Directive Be Prepared
For those who want even more control over their final exit, there's an organization call Final Exit Network that advocates for right to die and peaceful ways to end one's life. If it's not for you, disregard it.
If you use any online forms, be sure that they are approved by your state's Bar Association, but I would recommend retaining an attorney anyway - that way, you are sure to have documents that are appropriate for your mom's particular situation. The Advance Directive can be confusing.
I had an attorney draw up my mother's Advance Directive, Health Care Power of Attorney and Durable POA just before she started on opioid pain medication. In the absence of a Last Will and Testament (Mom had nothing of value to warrant one), he also drew up a brief document giving me the sole rights to her personal letters and papers, as I was getting ready to publish a book that contained them.
The cost for these documents, including the recording fees, was $300. That may seem like a lot, but it gave me great peace of mind. The attorney carefully questioned her on each item to ensure that her wishes were indeed being stated clearly, and he explained every clause before she signed anything.
Having a disinterested third party create and witness everything also provides a "stamp of legitimacy" that could prove valuable later on.
Thank you. I have consulted with an elder law attorney. She helped me to fill it up since mom dosen't know English. But my concern is, I need to know if anyone has had any bad experiences in some institutions, despite having the AHD and if they wished they had that detail mentioned in the POA. I like to have it notarized but want to make sure before signing, that I have considered any possibilities to make her experience as comfortable as possible, in any institution.
my advice is to have a lawyer prepare the document. Do not use an online form or book to create one. A lawyer will be familiar with local provincial/state laws and can be an ongoing resource.
A document called a POLST is much more detailed than a DNR. there is a pamphlet you can get on line called Five Wishes and it has a lot of good information and it is pretty easy to complete.
I think it is very important to have the statement that any measures outside of what is specifically allowed is to be not allowed. Mthr's AD states that on the first page of the document, but hospice just kept the check boxes in her medical chart. It would have been nice to have that statement on the check box page.
The MOLST form (Medical Orders For Life Sustaining Treatment) is used in New York State. The person is supposed to carry this form with them whenever they leave their residence. The social worker at my mother’s AL facility completed the form with my mother. It was then witnessed by two people and notarized.
Follow your state's guidelines. Make sure that the facility,local hospital,ambulance company,local ambulance company, and her primary care physician have copies. Keep one for yourself. Make sure the completed document honors your mother's wishes. I found out when my mother was dying that the E.R physician reviewed her advanced directive to ensure that I didn't wish to override it. It is important that the surrogate understand and honor their loved one's wishes even if they do not agree. If your mother dies not wish to be resuscitated, the primary care physician must write a DNR order to place in her chart. If a person is person is unable to execute an advanced directive due to dementia, an advance directive document can not be executed for them.
By the way a POLST or DNR should be carried at all times. If in an emergency if a person is taken to the hospital they will do what is necessary to save your life, as will paramedics on the scene if the POLST or DNR is not available. Even if you say the person has either document if it is not there it "does not exist" until presented.
Advance Care Planning: Healthcare Directives
What Is Advance Care Planning?
Advance Care Planning Decisions
Getting Started with Advance Care Planning
Making Your Advance Care Wishes Known
How to Choose Your Healthcare Proxy
Making Your Healthcare Directives Official
What to Do After You Set Up Your Advance Directive
Be Prepared
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives
https://www.everplans.com/articles/checklist-creating-an-advance-health-care-directive
For those who want even more control over their final exit, there's an organization call Final Exit Network that advocates for right to die and peaceful ways to end one's life. If it's not for you, disregard it.
https://finalexitnetwork.org/about/mission-and-vision/
I had an attorney draw up my mother's Advance Directive, Health Care Power of Attorney and Durable POA just before she started on opioid pain medication. In the absence of a Last Will and Testament (Mom had nothing of value to warrant one), he also drew up a brief document giving me the sole rights to her personal letters and papers, as I was getting ready to publish a book that contained them.
The cost for these documents, including the recording fees, was $300. That may seem like a lot, but it gave me great peace of mind. The attorney carefully questioned her on each item to ensure that her wishes were indeed being stated clearly, and he explained every clause before she signed anything.
Having a disinterested third party create and witness everything also provides a "stamp of legitimacy" that could prove valuable later on.
But my concern is, I need to know if anyone has had any bad experiences in some institutions, despite having the AHD and if they wished they had that detail mentioned in the POA. I like to have it notarized but want to make sure before signing, that I have considered any possibilities to make her experience as comfortable as possible, in any institution.
Make sure the Will and POA are up to date too.
I agree about the diagnosis of ALZ.
there is a pamphlet you can get on line called Five Wishes and it has a lot of good information and it is pretty easy to complete.
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