fmd chat together 2013 - jeanne matthews, planning for the future

7/29/2019 FMD Chat Together 2013 - Jeanne Matthews, Planning for the Future

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Planning for the Future

Toolbox

Wills, Advance Directives,

DNRs, etc.

Presented by:

Southwestern Commission

Area Agency on Aging

Jeanne Mathews, Aging Program Coordinator

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW??


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WHAT IS A WILL? IS IT NECESSARY?

A WILL IS:

A is a Legal Document

stating your wishes for

everything you own after

your death.

IT IS THE BEST WAY TO:

Determine Distribution

Provide for Family Needs

Plan Wisely for Taxes

Make Contributions

EVERY ADULT SHOULD HAVE A WILL!


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WITHOUT A WILL

The court will divide your property

according to North Carolina Law

The court will appoint someone to settle

your estate


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WHO SHOULD PREPARE MY WILL?

A Lawyer will help you by

drawing up a will that suits

your needs and wishes and

meets the legal requirements.


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WHAT IS AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?

A set of directions YOU give about the medical

care you want IF you lose the ability to make

decisions for yourself.

These directions help ensure you get the

level of treatment you want if you can no

longer tell your health care provider what

you want.


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Fear of Under-Treatment


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Fear of Over-Treatment


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LIVING WILL

In North Carolina, a Living Will is a legal document that

tells others that you want to die a natural death if you:

Become incurably sick with an irreversible condition that

will result in your death within a short period of time

Are unconscious and your physician determines that it is

highly unlikely you will regain consciousness

Have advanced dementia or a similar condition which

results in a substantial cognitive loss and it is highly

unlikely the condition will be reversed


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LIVING WILL

You Decide:About l i fe pro long ing

t reatments such as:

A breathing machine

(ventilator or respirator)

Food and Water through

feeding tubes (artificial

nutrition and hydration)

Is Effective:

ONLY when TWO

physicians determine

that you meet one of

the conditions specified

in the Living Will.


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HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY

A legal document in which you can name a person to be

your health care agent to make medical decisions for you

IF you become unable to make them for yourself.

Becomes effective when a physician states in writing that

you are not able to make or to communicate your health

care choices.

You may choose ANY adult that you trust to be your agent.

You can say what medical treatments you do or do not

want.


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ADVANCE INSTRUCTION

FOR MENTAL HEALTH

A legal document that tells physicians and mental

health providers what mental health treatments you

do or do not want.

Becomes effective when your physician or eligible

psychologist determines in writing you can no longer

make or communicate your mental health decisions.

You may choose ANY adult that you trust to make

your mental health decisions.


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RULES FOR COMPLETEING

THESE FORMS?

Written

Signed by you while you are still able to

make and communicate health care

decisions

Witnessed by Two qualified adults

Notarized


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WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE FORMS?

Keep a copy in a safe place where your family members can

get to it (NOT a safe deposit box!)

Give a copy to all of your doctors and health care providers

Take a copy to your hospital to be put in your medical record

Give copies to family and friends who may be asked about

your health care decisions

Register your forms online at www.nclifelinks.org
http://www.nclifelinks.org/http://www.nclifelinks.org/


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TALK TO YOUR FAMILY

ABOUT YOUR DECISIONS

Discuss your wishes with the person you

name as your agent.

Discuss them with your health care providers.

Discuss them with friends and family.

Talking about your wishes will help everyone be

comfortable with your decisions and help assure

that you receive the level of treatment you want

if you can not longer make that decision!


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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Organ Donation

Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

Medical Order for Scope of Treatment

(MOST form)


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ORGAN DONATION

You can express your desire to donate by:

Authorizing NC DMV to put an organ donor

symbol on your drivers license

Complete an organ donor card or other

document

Express your desire in your will and/or health

care power of attorney

www.nclifelinks.org For More Information about Organ Donation
http://www.nclifelinks.org/http://www.nclifelinks.org/


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DNR Do Not Resuscitate Order

These are written instructions from a physician telling

health-care providers not to perform CPR or related

procedures on a patient.

These are used for people with terminal illness, with

serious or disabling conditions that they are not expected

to recover from or people who are very elderly or very frail

and would suffer greatly as a result of CPR.

These are usually posted in hospital rooms, Non-Hospital

DNR Orders will be posted in the patients home.


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MOST Medical Order for

Scope of Treatment

Goal: To ensure that patients wishes withrespect to level and type of treatment atthe end of life are known and honored

Similar to DNR, but travels with you whereyou go (i.e., home to hospital) andincludes greater detail about end of lifewishes

Must be issued and signed by physicianand yourself

Must be updated at least once a year


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An Alternative Living WillI, MAXINE , being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be

kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no

circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinheadpoliticians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives

depended on it, or lawyers / doctors interested in simply running

up the bills. If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to

ask for at least one of the following:

Glass of wine Mexican foodMargarita Chocolate

Chocolate Martini

Cold Beer French Fries

Chocolate Chocolate

Chicken fried steak Pizza

Cream gravy Ice creamChocolate Cup of tea

Sex Chocolate

It should be presumed that I won't ever get better. When such a determination is

reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull

the plug, reel in the tubes, let the "fat lady sing". . . and call it a day!


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Use this Toolbox to make your

Plans NOW!

Enjoy your Future!

fmd chat together 2013 - jeanne matthews, planning for the future

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