Questions About Important Documents for Seniors

1. In Canada, what form is needed for a spouse to make heath care decisions?

   Question - In Ontario, Canada what form or document does a spouse have to sign so that she may make the decision to end life support for her husband? He is on life support, is about to lose his leg, has had a massive heart attack,and his kidneys are not functioning...

2. What do I do when a health care directive is challenged by hospital doctors?

   Question - Laws in most states obligate doctors to honor a valid advance directive—or else transfer the patient to the care of a doctor who will honor it.But as you might already have discovered, it can be difficult indeed to break through the unwritten Physicians' Code of Silence and find one who will act agagainst the express lobbied wishes of another...
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

3. Does there need to be specific language in an advance directive regarding Alzheimer's?

   Question - Your question, and what you witnessed from the inside out, highlight the serious gaps that exist between the legalities of medical directives and the realities of disease and medical care.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

4. Are there living will templates?

   Question - Yes, there are several places on the internet where you can get free living will templates. There are also several places on the internet where you can purchase living will templates. In addition to the internet, you can go to the local bookstore and purchase books that will give you templates and tips on how to write a living will...
   1 Community Answer

5. How do you prepare a living will?

   Question - Initially, to prepare a living will, you will need to research all the options that are available to you. There are many different options available to you, such as Do Not Resuscitate orders, oxygen directives, and feeding tubes. You should never enter into a living will contract without first seeking...
   1 Community Answer

6. Is it unethical for family members to change a living will?

   Question - In most cases, it is considered unethical for a family member to change a living will, since this document is supposed to reflect the views of the patient, not their family members. This is especially the case if the living will is changed in a way to favor the individual changing it more so than it did previously...
   1 Community Answer

7. What is an example of a living will?

   Question - An example of a living will is as follows: I (name) of sound body and sound mind am writing this will to be in place in case one day I am unable to physically or mentally make my own care decisions. At this time I would like to note that I am able to die...
   1 Community Answer

8. Is there restitution when you find out medical professions did not comply with legal documents?

   Question - As you’re finding out the hard way, it can be extremely difficult to get and interpret medical information about another person—especially from within the confined walls of a hospital.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

9. Who decides when someone can no longer make decisions any longer?

   Question - Mothers advance directive states that I can make decisions for her,,[" Immediately after I sign this document, subject to my right to make any decision about my health care if I want and am able to."]. Now my question is, who decides that she can know longer do this for her self??

10. Is there an online living will form for the state of Tennessee?

    Question - I do not know if there is an online health care directive/ living will for Tennessee. I suggest that you contact the Tennessee State medical Association, who should be able to provide the form. Or try a Goggle search.
    1 Expert Answer

11. Are POA and health care directives valid regardless of which US state Mom is living in?

    Question - You may need to take a few steps to make sure the bases are covered for your mother.
    1 Expert Answer

12. What legal paperwork for parents is necessary besides a will?

    Question - Each parent should have an advance health care directive. In some states, these are two separate documents: a medical directive (also called a living will) setting out your parent's wishes regarding medical care, and a durable power of attorney for health care which names someone to make medical decisions when your parent is unable to...
    1 Expert Answer

13. Can you provide me with a list of "end of life" questions to address with my family?

    Question - How wise you are to plan ahead for these life and death matters. And your question prompted us at Caring.com to get to work on fashioning this very thing. So I thank you -- and many other future users will thank you, too. And sorry to toot our own horn, but in the meantime, you can get a good jumpstart from several of the articles already on the site...
    1 Expert Answer

14. How can I obtain the forms required for a free living will or advance directive?

    Question - Your best bet may be to head for the nearest hospital -- or the one in which you would likely receive treatment -- and ask the patient representative or someone staffing the department of social services for the forms used and accepted there. The friendlier types may even help provide advice for completing them if you get stuck along the way...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

15. Does an advanced directive for health care agents supersede a durable power of attorney for medical decisions, if you have both?

    Question - Take a close look at both documents. It may be that they were intended to work together. Sometimes, an advance directive is used to specify what type of medical care a person would want to receive if he or she became unable to specify it, and the power of attorney is used solely to designate a person to supervise those wishes...
    1 Expert Answer

16. How can I obtain my deceased mother's medical records?

    Question - You ask about getting your deceased mother's medical records. I am not clear about why you want them, but my experience is that most often, people want a deceased person's medical records because they suspect that something was not right about the care the deceased received. If that is the case, be prepared to pay a fee for the records...
    1 Expert Answer

17. My husband was designated on an Advance Health care...

    Question - My husband was designated on an Advance Health care directive for a friend of ours. The paperwork was put in the hospice folder per the attending nurses request. She stated, our friend was quickly going downhill and the coroner needed the form to know what to do with his body...

18. How can I ensure that my domestic partner will be empowered to handle my medical care and financial decisions?

    Question - You have taken good solid steps to ensure that your wishes are protected from a legal standpoint. Check the ownership designations on other types of property or benefits you may own. You may also be able to name your partner as immediate beneficiary of property such as pension rights and the pay-on-death...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

19. Are living trusts and living wills the same?

    Question - Although they have similar names, these are two very different animals. Both are documents you might encourage your parents to consider in setting out their wishes for their property and final care as part of a comprehensive estate plan.
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer