You're getting older. While we all hope to live a long, healthy, happy, and energetic life—no one can predict the future. Be prepared.
Talk with your family and loved ones about the end of life care you want when the time comes. Make sure your wishes are respected and
honored.
Long-term care provides custodial and non-skilled care for normal daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, taking medications, and
using the bathroom. For some, long-term care requires skilled medical practitioners. It can be done in the home, or at a facility.
Both can be very expensive.
POLST
POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. It is a set of physician orders you want your doctor to follow
when you can no longer speak for yourself. You fill this out with your doctor to ensure your medical wishes are met. After discussion
with your doctor, you can state what level of care you want, from full support to do not resuscitate (no CPR).
Advance Directive
An Advance Directive is a list of health care decisions you make for yourself while you are in good health, so that they can be followed
in the event that you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself due to illness or health condition. You can also appoint a person
to make such decisions on your behalf and state whether you want to receive CPR if your heart stops beating or you stop breathing.
Discuss these options with your doctor, and make sure your wishes are heard when you are no longer able to state them. Your doctor can
help you fill out these forms (POLST and Advance Directive). Then, keep one copy in your medical record and the original with you, to
be followed when the time comes that you are at the end of your life.