Have you talked to your aging parents about their end of life wishes?
Do you know if they have living wills, health care powers of attorney or do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders?
“It’s a very tough, but necessary conversation,” said Teresa Steinfatt, Vice President of Business Performance at Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner, the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “Developing a plan and communicating it to loved ones before a crisis occurs, ensures that their wishes will be honored in the event they can’t speak for themselves.”
An advance directive is a legal document that goes into effect only if a person is incapacitated and unable to speak for themselves. It helps others know what type of medical care they want – or don’t want.