What is the best way to plan for end-of-life care?
End-of-life care can be a difficult conversation to have, but it is important to make sure you are prepared. In Washington state, there are several pieces of legislation in place to make sure that your end-of-life care wishes are respected and honored. One key piece of legislation is the Washington State Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program. The POLST form allows individuals to document their end-of-life care wishes, including their wishes for CPR, tube feeding, and other treatments in the event of a serious illness or injury. Having a POLST form filled out and signed by the patient and their physician ensures that the patient’s wishes will be honored if they are unable to make decisions for themselves. It is also important to create a power of attorney document. This document allows you to choose someone else to make decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so. This person can be tasked with making sure your end-of-life care wishes are respected. Finally, it is important to make sure that you have a Living Will. A Living Will is a document which sets out your wishes should you become incapacitated. It allows you to specify what kind of medical care you would like to receive in the event that you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. By taking the time to plan for your end-of-life care, you can make sure that your wishes are honored and your family is prepared. It can be difficult to talk about end-of-life care, but it is an important conversation to have.
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