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 Be
sure family knows end-of-life wishes
March 28,
2007(Medialink) -- According to a new nationwide survey of issues
on aging, one third of Americans aged 35 and older do not have a
living will or other documents in place for healthcare decision
making. The survey, conducted by the National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys (NAELA) asked “Which specific instructions for yourself do
you have in place should you be unable to make medical decisions on
your own?
Living
Will 52.8%
Healthcare Power of Attorney 35.8%
Healthcare Proxy 21.7%
Other legal document 18.0%
None of these 31.6%
While the Terri Schiavo case (Terri died March 31, 2005) brought
forth a great deal of discussion about life and death issues, NAELA
stresses that the preparation of advance directives (living will,
health care power of attorney and health care proxy) is extremely
important for everyone over the age of 18.
NAELA advises
consumers to consider five key questions when
speaking with an elder law attorney about a living
will, health care power of attorney and health care
proxy:
1. Who will serve as
your Agent for Health Care? Who will serve as the
alternate?
2. Are there certain
medical treatments or pain control measures you want
or don't want?
3. Do you wish to
take or refuse any medication that may reduce or
eliminate the ability to communicate?
4. Do you
have any particular directions regarding specific health care
facilities, religious preferences, disposition of your body,
donation of bodily parts for transplant or research, etc?
5. What
directions will you provide related to end-of life decisions
specifically regarding:
if you
can no longer eat, drink or breathe on your own;
if you
cannot function independent of machines;
if you
are confined to bed;
if you
have no cognitive ability.
This
video is provided courtesy of the National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys. NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers,
bar organizations and others who work with clients who are older or
disabled and their families. NAELA polled 1,001 Americans aged 35
years and older for the Survey on Aging Issues.
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