Elder Care - Do Not Get Screwed Or Sued While Providing Elder Care Part 2 of 3
In part one I discussed the value of a durable power of attorney.
In this article I will discuss the second powerful tool, the health proxy.
What Is A Health Proxy? A health care proxy will allow you to speak or make medical decisions on your loved one's (LO) behalf if they can not speak for themselves.
Hospitals and doctors' offices usually have their own forms which the LO should sign.
This will allow you to get test results and discuss their bills.
You can contact the American Association Of Retired Persons and get access to a health care proxy that that was designed in conjunction with the American Medical Association.
A lawyer should be consulted just to be sure that all necessary laws are followed.
Give all concerned relatives a copy of the health proxy so they know in advance what the LO wants.
You do not want to have an argument in the hospital with a relative who disagrees with what you are doing for the LO.
It is important that you, your LO and his/her primary physician determine what courses of treatment your LO wants or does not want and that you make this determination as soon as possible.
Sometimes an elderly person's condition can change very rapidly and you don't want to have to do this when a crisis has occurred.
Some of the procedures you might want to consider are;
When you understand how your LO wants to be treated it reduces the guilt and anxiety over making a life or death decision.
At the end of his life, my father-in-law was taken from a rehab center to the intensive care unit of a local hospital and was put on a respirator.
We were asked whether we wanted to have him continue on the respirator.
We were not prepared for that decision.
He was on the respirator for two more days until he passed away.
Why It Is Important The health proxy protects you and the LO three ways;
If your LO stops breathing a DRN order is a legal directive that will prevent anyone from performing CPR on your LO.
Your LO's doctor will issue the DNR after consulting with you and the LO.
A DRN allows your LO to die peacefully in his/her sleep.
A copy should be placed in your LO's medical record at the local hospital, rehab center, assisted living facility or nursing home.
If your LO does not live with you a copy of the DNR along with an information sheet contains a list of current medications, known allergies, the doctor's phone number and your phone number and placed in a plastic zip lock bag and attached to the refrigerator.
In the event that the emergency squad is called in they will have all that vital information.
In my next article I will discuss the third powerful tool you will need to protect yourself and your loved one.
part one I discussed the value of a durable power of attorney.
In this article I will discuss the second powerful tool, the health proxy.
In this article I will discuss the second powerful tool, the health proxy.
What Is A Health Proxy? A health care proxy will allow you to speak or make medical decisions on your loved one's (LO) behalf if they can not speak for themselves.
Hospitals and doctors' offices usually have their own forms which the LO should sign.
This will allow you to get test results and discuss their bills.
You can contact the American Association Of Retired Persons and get access to a health care proxy that that was designed in conjunction with the American Medical Association.
A lawyer should be consulted just to be sure that all necessary laws are followed.
Give all concerned relatives a copy of the health proxy so they know in advance what the LO wants.
You do not want to have an argument in the hospital with a relative who disagrees with what you are doing for the LO.
It is important that you, your LO and his/her primary physician determine what courses of treatment your LO wants or does not want and that you make this determination as soon as possible.
Sometimes an elderly person's condition can change very rapidly and you don't want to have to do this when a crisis has occurred.
Some of the procedures you might want to consider are;
- Feeding tubes
- Respirators
- Blood Transfusions
- Antibiotics
- Discontinuation of life saving measures
When you understand how your LO wants to be treated it reduces the guilt and anxiety over making a life or death decision.
At the end of his life, my father-in-law was taken from a rehab center to the intensive care unit of a local hospital and was put on a respirator.
We were asked whether we wanted to have him continue on the respirator.
We were not prepared for that decision.
He was on the respirator for two more days until he passed away.
Why It Is Important The health proxy protects you and the LO three ways;
- It allows you to be sure that your LO's wishes are carried out
- It relieves the guilt and anxiety you might have over making a life or death decision
- It shields you from possible recriminations from people who would second guess you about the decisions you have made.
If your LO stops breathing a DRN order is a legal directive that will prevent anyone from performing CPR on your LO.
Your LO's doctor will issue the DNR after consulting with you and the LO.
A DRN allows your LO to die peacefully in his/her sleep.
A copy should be placed in your LO's medical record at the local hospital, rehab center, assisted living facility or nursing home.
If your LO does not live with you a copy of the DNR along with an information sheet contains a list of current medications, known allergies, the doctor's phone number and your phone number and placed in a plastic zip lock bag and attached to the refrigerator.
In the event that the emergency squad is called in they will have all that vital information.
In my next article I will discuss the third powerful tool you will need to protect yourself and your loved one.
part one I discussed the value of a durable power of attorney.
In this article I will discuss the second powerful tool, the health proxy.
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