Write 3 teaching topics you could share with a client about advance directives including a living will and power of attorney. What is the rationale for each teaching topic?
Discuss what a Living Will is. If the client has a Living Will, it can show that the client is planning for the future, and what they want done with their assets and even their healthcare. Families are encouraged to discuss this so that when the time comes that the client is unable to make their own decisions or in the case of sudden death, a Living Will is a legally binding document that explains the client’s wishes.
A Power of Attorney is important to establish in the situation that the client cannot make their own decisions regarding medical treatment or assets like property or finances. Understand that there are two different types of Powers of Attorney, and they both need to be named. If a client does not have a Power of Attorney for healthcare named, then it is the spouse of the client, or then the parent, or then the child. Every state is different, so I would want to make sure I explain the law in the state I am in.
Let’s talk about Do Not Resuscitate orders. Freewill describes a Do Not Resuscitate order, often shortened to DNR, as a document that tells healthcare providers that you don’t want to be resuscitated in the event of an emergency. In other words, you don’t want them to perform CPR if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating. A DNR order is signed by both you and your doctor, and is usually for patients with serious health conditions.
References
FreeWill. (2021, July 1). What is a DNR?
