Discussions are underway to arrange home care for your parents. As your family starts to research and make arrangements, there is one thing you may not be thinking about. You need to think about the paperwork that will be helpful to your family and the caregivers you hire.
Advance Directives/Living Wills
Advance directives or living wills are extremely important. These forms designate what kinds of care should be implemented in different situations. If your parent cannot speak for him/herself after having a stroke, would your parent want a feeding tube? If your parent is a recovering addict, would opioid medications be allowable?
Keep Notes on Past and Present Treatments
Religious beliefs regarding some treatments may be important to your parent. Allergies to medications like penicillin and notes about former surgeries are all things doctors need to know before treating your parent. Knowing all former surgeries is something to keep in mind as doctors need to know if there are metal plates or pins prior to putting your parent into an MRI.
Emergency Contacts
Keep a list of emergency contacts handy. It's a good idea to laminate this list and stick it on the refrigerator or hang it near the phone. By laminating it, it can't get ripped or stained. People who need to be on this list include the people holding the power of attorney, doctors, attorneys, and dentists.
Powers of Attorney
Your family should sit down with an elder law attorney to discuss designating someone to be the power of attorney for medical issues. It's also important to designate someone for financial matters. When it comes to emergency care, if your parent cannot speak, the medical POA would act as your parent's agent and make sure his/her wishes were followed.
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
POLST or MOLST is a national form that is filled out with a physician. Different states call it different things, but doctors do know what you're talking about if you ask about POLST or MOLST forms.
It's a quick form that answers key questions about care if you have a terminal illness or something happens and there's no hope for recovery. It covers feeding tubes, ventilators, and do-not-resuscitate orders. Your parent doesn't have to have a lawyer draw up this form, so it's quick to complete it during an office visit.
With the paperwork completed, there are no questions if your parent needs emergency care. Caregivers, doctors, and family members all know what your parent wants. Once you've got the paperwork in place, call a home care agency to discuss prices, services, and schedules. That home care specialist will walk you through the rest of the process.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN NEW EAST SIDE, IL FOR AN AGING LOVED ONE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.
Advance Directives/Living Wills
Advance directives or living wills are extremely important. These forms designate what kinds of care should be implemented in different situations. If your parent cannot speak for him/herself after having a stroke, would your parent want a feeding tube? If your parent is a recovering addict, would opioid medications be allowable?
Keep Notes on Past and Present Treatments
Religious beliefs regarding some treatments may be important to your parent. Allergies to medications like penicillin and notes about former surgeries are all things doctors need to know before treating your parent. Knowing all former surgeries is something to keep in mind as doctors need to know if there are metal plates or pins prior to putting your parent into an MRI.
Emergency Contacts
Keep a list of emergency contacts handy. It's a good idea to laminate this list and stick it on the refrigerator or hang it near the phone. By laminating it, it can't get ripped or stained. People who need to be on this list include the people holding the power of attorney, doctors, attorneys, and dentists.
Powers of Attorney
Your family should sit down with an elder law attorney to discuss designating someone to be the power of attorney for medical issues. It's also important to designate someone for financial matters. When it comes to emergency care, if your parent cannot speak, the medical POA would act as your parent's agent and make sure his/her wishes were followed.
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
POLST or MOLST is a national form that is filled out with a physician. Different states call it different things, but doctors do know what you're talking about if you ask about POLST or MOLST forms.
It's a quick form that answers key questions about care if you have a terminal illness or something happens and there's no hope for recovery. It covers feeding tubes, ventilators, and do-not-resuscitate orders. Your parent doesn't have to have a lawyer draw up this form, so it's quick to complete it during an office visit.
With the paperwork completed, there are no questions if your parent needs emergency care. Caregivers, doctors, and family members all know what your parent wants. Once you've got the paperwork in place, call a home care agency to discuss prices, services, and schedules. That home care specialist will walk you through the rest of the process.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN NEW EAST SIDE, IL FOR AN AGING LOVED ONE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.