The digital downloads available here are from other sites and are for information, education and, guidance ONLY. It is our hope that the information helps you the caregiver in your journey.
This information is in NO way a replacement for professional advice.
We Care from Administration on Aging
Aging Parents by V.L.Schmall and I. Isbes
Coping with Caregiving by By Vicki Schmall, Pacific Northwest Extension Publication, Family Caregiver Support Program handout
Emotional Challenges of Caregiving
Caregiving Guide by National Institute on Aging
Family Caregiver Handbook from Washington State Aging and Disability Services Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA
National Council on Disability
National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Health
National Library of Medicine (Medline Plus)
Social Security
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
What are Advance Directives?
A living will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life.
Before your living will can guide medical decision-making two physicians must certify:
- You are unable to make medical decisions,
- You are in the medical condition specified in the state’s living will law (such as “terminal illness” or “permanent unconsciousness”),
- Other requirements also may apply, depending upon the state.
A medical power of attorney (or healthcare proxy) allows you to appoint a person you trust as your healthcare agent (or surrogate decision maker), who is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Before a medical power of attorney goes into effect a person’s physician must conclude that they are unable to make their own medical decisions. In addition:
- If a person regains the ability to make decisions, the agent cannot continue to act on the person’s behalf.
- Many states have additional requirements that apply only to decisions about life-sustaining medical treatments.
- For example, before your agent can refuse a life-sustaining treatment on your behalf, a second physician may have to confirm your doctor’s assessment that you are incapable of making treatment decisions.
What Else Do I Need to Know? Read more …
Download Your State’s Advance Directives
Caring Connections provides free advance directives and instructions for each state that can be opened as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file.
To download your state’s Advance Directives by clicking here
Article from Caring Connections. Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a national consumer and community engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
These facts sheets are from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging.
Communicating with Health Professionals
Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides research on preferences for care at end of life that can help guide decision making for end of life care.
The American Bar Association (ABA) provides a tool kit that offers information to help clarify decision-making before a health crisis occurs and resources for legal help in each state including legal services funded through the Older Americans Act.
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) are charged with protecting constituents in matters affecting the public interest, including consumer protection of those who are dying. The NAAG End-of-Life Health Care Project includes information on a range of end of life issues.
The digital downloads available here are from other sites and are for information, education and, guidance ONLY. It is our hope that the information helps you the caregiver in your journey.
This information is in NO way a replacement for professional advice.
