If you currently have a parent in senior care, or if you will soon, then you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with several necessary legal documents. Take a look below at the documents we have outlined, which are essential for any parent in senior care.
Advanced Directive
Advanced directives, perhaps one of the most important items to have prepared, are crucial for seniors. This is a collection of several documents that have your senior’s instructions and preferences detailed for medical treatments and comfort during their end of life care. An advanced directive is especially important should your senior be unable to speak for themselves at any point in the future.
Living Will
A living will is a specific and critical component of an advanced directive. Living wills are documents that state your senior’s wishes for their end of life care. Furthermore, they serve to inform healthcare providers and physicians about their wishes that are being carried out by a healthcare proxy (see below for more details under “Power of Attorney”).
DNR & DNI
DNRs, which stand for “Do Not Resuscitate,” and DNIs, which mean “Do Not Intubate” are two documents are necessary – even if they are not always easy to discuss – to define your senior’s preferences when it comes to resuscitation or intubation, which are used to save lives. If your senior opts to have a DNR order, it will state that they do not want CPR, chest compressions, or the use of a defibrillator to keep them alive. If they opt to have a DNI order, it will state that your senior does not want a breathing tube inserted to keep them alive.
Power of Attorney
When it comes to power of attorney, your senior has two different types to consider. The first is a durable power of attorney, which gives a person the legal right to conduct matters such as medical, real estate, banking, finance, and government benefits, on behalf of your senior. The other, healthcare/healthcare proxy power of attorney, lets your senior appoint a person to ensure that their wishes regarding end of life care are honored if they are unable to speak for themselves.
Will and/or Trust
Wills and trusts are separate legal documents pertaining to your senior’s possessions and the disposition of properties. We suggest that your senior establish these types of documents with an attorney.
For further help sorting through these documents or getting your senior enrolled into a personalized senior care plan, call Home Care Assistance for your consultation today!