An Advance Directive is a legal document that outlines a hospice patient’s wishes regarding medical care and end-of-life treatment. It is designed to ensure that the patient’s healthcare preferences are followed in the event that they are unable to communicate their decisions.
For hospice patients, who are typically in the final stages of a terminal illness, advance directives provide clarity and control over how they want to be cared for in their remaining time.
The Key Components of an Advance Directive for Hospice Care:
1. Having a Living Will:
A living will specifies the types of medical treatments and interventions a patient wishes to receive or avoid as they near the end of life. This can include:
- Life-Sustaining Treatments: Such as mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, or dialysis.
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: Instructions to not perform CPR if the patient’s heart stops or they stop breathing.
- Pain Management: Preferences for pain relief and comfort measures, including using medications to alleviate suffering.
2. Durable Power of Attorney (POA) for a Healthcare Proxy:
This document designates a trusted person, known as a healthcare proxy or agent, to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf if they cannot do so. The chosen proxy ensures that the patient’s wishes are carried out according to the advance directive.
The healthcare proxy can make decisions regarding the following:
- Treatments to administer or withhold.
- Decisions about transferring the patient to a hospital or continuing hospice care at home or in a facility.
3. POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment):
In some cases, patients may also complete a POLST form, a medical order reflecting their preferences for treatments such as resuscitation, intubation, and comfort care. This form is often used in conjunction with an advance directive and is signed by both the patient and their doctor.
Why is it so Important for Hospice Patients to Consider an Advance Directive?
An Advance Directive provides a means to ensure an individual’s wishes for end-of-life care continue to be followed even if they can no longer communicate their wishes clearly.
An advance directive allows hospice patients to maintain control over their healthcare decisions, ensuring that their wishes for pain management, resuscitation, and life-sustaining treatments are respected.
It can also reduce stress for a family. It removes the burden from family members, who might otherwise have to make difficult decisions about care. The directive provides clear guidance on what the patient wants, reducing uncertainty and potential conflicts.
An advance directive can act as a guide to Hospice Providers. The document helps hospice caregivers and medical professionals tailor care to the patient’s preferences, focusing on providing comfort and quality of life in alignment with the patient’s goals.
Use our Guide to Understanding the Four Levels of Hospice Care to help consider preparing an Advance Directive.
Advance directives are a crucial part of hospice care. They empower patients to make informed decisions about their end-of-life care and maintain their dignity and comfort.
Adding Instructions for End-of-Life Wishes: Choosing a Low-Cost Direct Cremation
An advance directive can be accompanied by instructions for end-of-life wishes that a patient desires to be followed by his or her family. That may need to be recorded or communicated before an illness can affect rational decision-making and communication.
Many hospice patients and their families opt to make simple cremation arrangements when the time comes. Going through a terminal illness and having had time to prepare for the inevitable can steer patients to opt for a simple and affordable cremation service as a dignified final arrangement. This can also ensure that hospice caregivers can support a family with a ‘no fuss’ transfer to a funeral home on passing.
The DFS Memorials network supports hospice and nursing staff by helping families access affordable cremation services across North America. We understand the importance of dignified services, transparent pricing, and quality care.
Check out our Funeral Planning Resources for further articles to assist in making final arrangements.
US Funerals Online has Cremation Cost Guides for every State. These outline typical and best cremation prices by city, with tips on legal aspects of choosing cremation and other suggestions on saving on costs and memorializing.
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
