🖨️How to Use This Checklist
• First: Download the PDF using the "Download PDF Checklist" button above
• Print the downloaded PDF for best formatting and page breaks
• Check off questions as you ask them or get answers
• Use the notes section to record important responses
• Bring this printed checklist to meetings with providers
• Keep completed checklists for future reference
🎯Understanding Advance Directives
3 questions to cover
1. What is an advance directive?
Why this matters: It's important to understand the basics of what an advance directive is and how it works. This provides context for the more detailed questions that follow.
2. What are the different types of advance directives?
Why this matters: There are several common types of advance directives, such as living wills and durable powers of attorney. Knowing the differences between them is key.
3. What medical decisions are covered in an advance directive?
Why this matters: Advance directives can cover a wide range of medical decisions, from life-sustaining treatments to pain management. Understanding the scope is important.
Additional Notes for Understanding Advance Directives:
💡Completing an Advance Directive
3 questions to cover
1. How do I create an advance directive?
Why this matters: Knowing the process for creating and signing an advance directive is critical to ensuring it is properly documented and legally binding.
2. Who should be involved in creating the advance directive?
Why this matters: Determining who should be involved, such as the elder, their healthcare provider, and family members, helps ensure the directive accurately reflects the elder's wishes.
3. Where should the advance directive be stored?
Why this matters: Knowing where to keep the advance directive, and who should have access to it, helps ensure it can be located and honored when needed.
Additional Notes for Completing an Advance Directive:
🔍Communicating Advance Directives
3 questions to cover
1. How should the advance directive be communicated to healthcare providers?
Why this matters: Ensuring healthcare providers are aware of the advance directive and have access to it is crucial for honoring the elder's wishes.
2. What happens if the elder's wishes change over time?
Why this matters: Advance directives can be updated, so it's important to know the process for making changes and communicating them to healthcare providers.
3. How can I ensure the advance directive is followed?
Why this matters: Knowing how to advocate for the elder's wishes and monitor their implementation can help ensure the advance directive is properly honored.
Additional Notes for Communicating Advance Directives:
⭐Special Considerations
3 questions to cover
1. What if the elder has dementia or other cognitive impairments?
Why this matters: Advance directives may need to be handled differently for elders with cognitive issues, so it's important to understand the relevant legal and ethical considerations.
2. How do advance directives work with other end-of-life planning documents?
Why this matters: Advance directives often work in conjunction with other end-of-life planning documents, such as wills and trusts, so it's important to understand how they interact.
3. What if there is disagreement among family members about the advance directive?
Why this matters: Conflicts can arise, so it's important to know how to navigate disagreements and ensure the elder's wishes are honored.
Additional Notes for Special Considerations:
📊 Summary & Next Steps
Key Concerns Identified:
Follow-up Actions:
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