In New York, the legally recognized advance directive is called a health care representative. What kind of medical care would you want to receive if you were too sick or hurt to express your wishes? Advance Directives are legal documents that allow you to explain your decisions about end-of-life care in advance. They give you a way to express your wishes to family, friends and health professionals and avoid confusion later on. A power of attorney for medical or medical care is a type of advance directive in which you name a person to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so.
In some states, this directive may also be referred to as a permanent power of attorney for health care or power of attorney for health care. You should state in your advance directive what you want done if your doctor suggests it's time to turn it off. Review your advance directives with your doctor and health care agent to make sure you have filled out the forms correctly. In some states, advance care planning includes a document called medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST).
Emergency medical technicians cannot comply with advance directives, living wills, or medical powers of attorney. If you store your advance directives in a registry and then make changes, you must replace the original with the updated version in the registry. Advance directive is the general term that refers to the various documents that could include a living will, a directive of instruction, a health care power of attorney, or a power of attorney for health care. Planning ahead can help people with Alzheimer's and their families clarify their wishes and make well-informed decisions about health care and financial arrangements.
After a doctor fully evaluates the person's condition and determines the underlying conditions, advance directives can be implemented. A POLST also indicates what advance directives you have created and who acts as your health care agent. You may want to make a card to carry in your wallet stating that you have an advance directive and where it is kept. The website lists each state's requirements for advance directives and has free “State-Specific Advance Directives” downloads with state-specific forms and instructions.
Also, when you're ready to fill out your advance directives, your health care team may be able to help. Advance directives are used to guide your health care team and loved ones when they need to make these decisions or to decide who will make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. Advance directives guide options for doctors and caregivers if you have a terminal illness, a serious injury, are in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life. For example, it's probably not unusual for someone to say in conversation, “I don't want to go to a nursing home,” but think carefully if you want a restriction like that on your advance directive.
Advance directive is a general term for defining and expressing how you want to live and be treated, and for state-approved advance directive documents that allow you to specify those things and usually designate a person (health care power of attorney) to speak when they cannot speak for you same.
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