William Penn Life, 2009 (44. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-09-01 / 9. szám
Adance Directives and Other Documents Written instructions letting others know the type of care you want if you are seriously ill or dying are called advance directives. These include a living will and health care power of attorney. A living will records your end-oflife care wishes in case you are no longer able to speak for yourself. You might want to talk with your doctor or other health care provider before preparing a living will. That way you will have a better understanding of what types of decisions might need to be made. Make sure your doctor and family have seen your living will and understand your instructions. Because a living will cannot give guidance for every possible situation, you probably want to name someone to make care decisions for you if you are unable to do so for yourself. You might choose a family member, friend, lawyer or someone in your religious community. You can do this either in the advance directives or through a durable power of attorney for health care that names a health care proxy, who is also called a representative, surrogate, agent or attomey-in-fact. "Durable" means it remains in effect even if you are unable to make decisions. A durable power of attorney for health care is useful if you don't want to be specific--if you would rather let the health care proxy evaluate each situation or treatment option independently. A durable power of attorney for health care is also important if your health care proxy, the person you want to make choices for you, is not a legal member of your family. Of course, you should make sure the person and altemate(s) you have named understand your views about end-of-life care. If you don't name someone, the state you live in probably has an order of priority based on family relationships to determine who decides for you. A few states let people name a health care proxy by HealthPage Health Links To download a complete copy of “End of Life: Helping with Comfort and Care” and for more information about end-of-life care, you can log onto the website of the National Institute on Aging at: 3 www.nia.nih.gov The booklet contains a long list of additional resources where you can learn more about the topics discussed in the booklet. For more information about advance directives, living wills and other legal documents mentioned in this article, you can log onto the website of the American Bar Association at: 3 www.abanet.org Or, you can visit the website of Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, at: 3 www.caringinfo.org telling their doctor, without paperwork. Don't confuse a "durable power of attorney for health care" with a "durable power of attorney." The first is limited to decisions related to health care, while the latter covers decisions regarding property or financial matters. A lawyer can prepare these papers, or you can do them yourself. Forms are available from your local or state government, from private groups or on the Internet. Often these forms need to be witnessed. That means that people who are not related to you watch as you sign and date the paperwork and then sign and date it themselves as proof that the signature is indeed yours. Make sure you give copies to your primary doctor and your health care proxy. Have copies in your files as well. Hospitals might ask for a copy when you are admitted, even if you are not seriously ill. Additional Considerations Sometimes people change their mind as they get older or after they become ill. Review the decisions in your advance directives from time to time and make changes if your views or your health needs have changed. Be sure to discuss these changes with your health care proxy and your doctor. Replace all copies of the older version with the updated ones, witnessed and signed if appropriate. You should also give permission to your doctors and insurance companies to share your personal information with your health care proxy. This lets that person discuss your case with your doctor and handle insurance issues that may come up. Do you live in one state, but spend a lot of time in another? Maybe you live in the north and spend winter months in a southern state. Or possibly your children and grandchildren live in a different state and you visit them often. Because states' rules and regulations may differ, make sure your forms are legal in both your home state and the state you travel to often. If not, make an advanced directive with copies for that state also. And make sure your family there has a copy. Many Americans have little experience with someone who is dying. But, when the time comes, unless the death is unexpected and quick, there are choices to be made. These may not be easy. But planning ahead and working with the health care team can help you provide needed comfort. You will probably remember for a long time what you do for someone who is dying. Realize that this is a difficult time for you too. Caring for someone at the end of life can be physically and emotionally exhausting. In the end, accept that there may be no perfect death, just the best you can do for the one you love. And the pain of losing someone close to you may be softened a little because, when they needed you, you did what you could, [wh] William Penn Life, September 2009 7
