Many adult children find out how unprepared their parent really is when
they go into the hospital. Only 30% of seniors have an Advance Directive
in place.

What is an advance directive?
An advance directive is a summary of your wishes in terms of what
type of treatment and medical decisions should be made on your behalf if
you can no longer speak for yourself.

An advance directive would describe what kind of care you want if you have
an illness that you are unlikely to recover from, or if you are permanently
unconscious. Advance directives usually tell your doctor that you do or
don’t want certain kinds of treatment.

There are many types of Advance Directives. Each state’s laws about advance
directives are unique. You should be aware of the laws in your state.
Living Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) are
all considered mainstream Advance Directives In most states.

A Living Will is a document that states the wishes of various medical
scenarios for people without a person designated to make medical decisions
for them. On the other hand, Durable Powers of Attorney (DPA) assigns a
person (advocate) that acts on their behalf to make medical decisions.
Even if these advance directives aren’t officially recognized by the law
in your state, they can still guide your loved ones and doctor if you are
unable to make decisions about your medical care. Ask your doctor, lawyer
or state representative about the law in your state.

Lastly, a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) is also a type of advance directive, a
request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops
or if you stop breathing.

Here are a couple of suggestions to get started:
-Use a form provided by your doctor.
-Write your wishes down by yourself.
-Call your health department or state department on aging to get a form.
-Call a lawyer.
-Use a computer software package for legal documents.

Here is a link that gives you the state forms:
http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289

This may be the most important step you can take in order to protect your
parent’s wishes.


David Wood, Owner, SLO Caregivers
David Wood, Owner, SLO Caregivers

San Luis Obispo Caregivers was created in memory of my Grandfather, Tracy Gordon Wood II. My mission is to honor him by providing trustworthy, compassionate, and competitively priced caregiving services to seniors in my community. After 25 years in the financial industry and the decision to leave behind a successful 6-year position as the Chief Operating Officer of SESLOC Federal Credit Union, I created San Luis Obispo Home Care. This decision served my desire to make a difference and support the growing needs of seniors in my community. As my business grew and I leaned heavily on my financial background, I realized there was a much more cost-effective way to provide seniors with the care they deserve. This realization led to the creation of San Luis Obispo Caregivers, a referral agency and SLO Senior Placement, a free resource for families looking for independent or assisted living options for seniors. Ultimately, I listen, assess your situation and recommend various options that are available for your family.