Preparing for hospice
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN ENROLLING
Hospice patients should be able to understand their treatment choices as well as be able to express their values and wishes when it comes to making healthcare decisions. By utilizing various legal documents, called advance directives, the patient can ensure that his or her wishes will be honored.
ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
You should be familiar with these legal documents before and after you decide to use hospice care. Some of these documents will require you to seek legal counsel.
MEDICAL DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY (MDPOA)
If you become incapacitated, this signed document gives authority to an adult at least 18 years of age allowing them to make necessary medical and health care decisions for you. This document does not need to be notarized or witnessed and it does not need to be completed by an attorney.
TEXAS OUT-OF-HOSPITAL DNR
This document states that emergency health care personnel or others may not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on you. This document is available from a health care provider and must be signed by both you and your doctor. Witnesses will be required to acknowledge your signature.
YOUR RIGHTS AS A PATIENT
Click here to learn more about the commitments we make to protect the rights and privacy of all our patients.
Silver-spring Healthcare does not discriminate with regard to patient admissions, patient services, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, disability or age. We fully adhere and enforce our policy, under all circumstances.
LIVING WILL
A Living Will is a document signed by a person which instructs the doctor regarding the use of artificial life-support measures if the person becomes terminally ill and is unable to make medical decisions.
In Texas, Living Wills may also be used to stop tube feeding and other forms of artificial life-supporting nourishment, but only if the Living Will clearly indicates this instruction and the person has a terminal illness. If the patient is able to swallow food and/or fluids, the Living Will won’t prevent the patient from being fed.
The Living Will must be signed by two witnesses but need not be notarized. Neither witness can be a patient of Silver-spring Healthcare, any person associated with Silver-spring Healthcare, any physician, employee of his/her primary physician, or persons who may inherit any of the patient’s money or property.
Living Will forms and other information regarding Living Wills can often be obtained through doctors, lawyers, health care facilities, other health organizations or an office supply store.