Pew Research surveys found in 1990 that 12 percent of Americans had a “living will,” a figure that rose to just 29 percent by 2005. So on a nearly daily basis, the palliative care specialist Dr. Joshua Lakin said in an interview, “I’d see someone who’d had lung cancer for several years, who’d been in and out of the hospital, had seen 20 doctors, and still hadn’t thought about the future and his priorities. It kind of blindsided me.” So Dr. Lakin, who just completed a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, and some colleagues took an entirely…
The sixth annual National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 proved to be another success, with particularly strong traditional and social media reach. Some highlights: · The “official” participants list includes 123 national organizations, 1,375 state/local organizations, and 16 services/registries. Countless others participated even without formally indicating their participation. · Based on survey responses from 255 of the above, it is estimated that at least: o 43,200 staff members or organizational members of participants received information about NHDD and/or advance care planning as part of NHDD; o 223,285 members of the general public attended events or received information at NHDD…
A poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found people 40 and older underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older, and aren't doing enough to prepare. But about 47 percent say they have taken one step, creating an advance directive to outline the medical care they'd want if they couldn't communicate. By LAURAN NEERGAARD and JENNIFER AGIESTA Associated Press / April 24, 2013
Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage hospitals, and hospices to participate in a State-wide effort to provide clear and consistent information to the public about advance directives. The Elder Law Office of David Wingate did a presentation to Frederick Memorial Hospital on April 16, 2013 on Advance Directives and Powers of Attorneys. This Seminar was sponsored by: The Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLCHospice of Frederick County
Whereas, Healthcare Decisions Day is an important day of awareness and education focused on encouraging everyone, including those who are healthy and in their prime of their lives, to think about and document care treatment preferences before a crisis; and Whereas, Advance Directives (living wills) allow individuals to document end-of-life wishes in the event that they become terminally ill or critically injured and unable to talk or communicate, and thus helps ensure that loved ones and healthcare providers know how to honor individual care decisions; and Whereas, A recent study suggests that increasing the number of…
It's important for everyone to execute advance directives and powers of attorney. An advance directive, otherwise known as a living will, documents a person's desires related to end-of-life medical decisions. A medical power of attorney, is where someone is appointed to make healthcare decisions if the person is no longer able to do so, due to either a physical condition or reduced mental capacity. Also, a financial power of attorney is similar to the health care power of attorney but deals with financial issues banking, property, taxes insurance etc. It's especially important for people with Alzheimer's to have these documents…
Because elder law attorneys work with a variety of agencies that provide assistance or expert advice for the elderly, they understand the complexities of preparing an advance directive or living will that can be respected and carried out according to your final wishes. If you try to prepare a living will or advance medical directive on your own, you could neglect to include important information that your descendants should have in order to respect your wishes. Someone may have to hire a litigation attorney to sort things out if not everyone agrees on how to proceed. You don’t want your…
No one wants to think about being incapacitated before they die. Most of us hope that we’ll never have to be a financial, emotional or physical burden to our loved ones, but the reality is that many people live longer than anticipated and may end up being a monetary and emotional weight on our children or spouses. Fortunately, there are many elder law attorneys who can help you prepare various documents, including advance directives and living wills, that address these issues. Avoiding making end of life plans is a mistake that can have a profound effect on our own lives…
Organ donation You can also specify in your advance directives any wishes you have about donating your organs, eyes and tissues for transplantation or your body for scientific study. If you wish to donate your body for scientific study, contact the medical school closest to your home for details. Share your wishes with your family Injury, illness and death aren't easy subjects to talk about, but by planning ahead you can ensure that you receive the type of medical care you want. You also relieve your family of the burden of trying to guess what you'd want done. Be sure…
Living wills and other advance directives describe your preferences regarding end-of-life care. Because unexpected situations can happen at any age, all adults need advance directives. Living wills and other advance directives describe your preferences regarding treatment if you're faced with a serious accident or illness, states the Mayo Clinic. These legal documents speak for you when you're not able to speak for yourself — for instance, if you're in a coma. Living wills and other advance directives aren't just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it's important for all adults to have advance directives….
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