• What is Hospice?
• Types of Hospice Care
• Who can be Admitted?
• Life Limiting Illnesss
• End-of-Life Decisions
• Team Approach
• How is Care Paid For?
• FAQs about Hospice Care
• Patient Privacy

End-of-Life Decisions

Many patients and families have misunderstandings about the use of Advance Medical Directives, legal documents that can help guide physicians and loved ones in medical decision-making in the midst of a crisis. There are basically two parts:

• A Living Will: Describes the types of Medical Treatments you would want should you be unable to communicate that at the end of life.
• Health Care Power of Attorney: States who you would want to make health care decisions for you should you be unable to make those for yourself.

Here are some common mistaken impressions:

Advance Directives say, “Don’t treat”.
False. Advance Directives say, “Here’s the way I want to be treated should I be unable to speak for myself.”

Advance Directives require an attorney to be legal.
False. Although witnesses may be required, an attorney is not necessary.

Advance Directives are legal tools for old people.
False. The stakes will be much higher for young people who have a tragic illness or accident. Everyone should have an advance directive specifying how he or she wants their care to be handled if they are unable to speak for themselves.

Doctors and other Health Care providers are not legally obligated to follow an Advance Directive.
False. They are legally obligated but sometimes they do not follow an Advance Directive should the immediate family disagree on care issues. That means it is important not only to write down your wishes but also to discuss them with close family members to assure they are followed.

If I name someone as my proxy to make decisions about my care. I will lose control of my medical destiny.
False. As long as a person has decision-making capacity, they retain control of all of their healthcare decisions. The proxy only makes decisions when you are unable.

I have power of attorney for financial matters for my father. Therefore I can make health care decisions for him.
False. A Health Care power of attorney should be drafted to name you as proxy to make health care decisions.