GET PREPARED
None of us know what the future will hold. The most we can do is gather all the information we can and let our family, friends, and caregivers know what our wishes are. Early preparation not just allows your wishes to be known, it can relieve your family and friends from the burden of making these decisions on their own. By identifying your choices it can decrease confusion or disagreement by others over what you want done. Please discuss your concerns and what you think you want your wishes to be with your doctor, family, or anyone else who you trust to give good advice. These documents do not go into effect unless you are unable to make your wishes known. Also note that these documents can be changed at any time.
Our family member who was united with in-home non medical care so that she could age in place in her own home.
http://www.azsos.gov/services/advance-directives
- Healthcare POA: This document allows you to state what person or persons you want making decisions about your care if you are unable to make these decisions yourself. You may even name alternates. Your healthcare POA cannot be part of your medical care team. Choose someone you can have a frank discussion about your end-of-life care wishes with. Name someone who will be your advocate to make sure your wishes are fulfilled. https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/lifecare/LCP_Packet_fillable-PoA.pdf
- Durable Mental Health Care POA: Similar to healthcare power of attorney, this document allows you to state what person or persons you want to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapable of making your own mental health care decisions. Pick a trusted advocate and please dicuss things with professionals such as your doctor, clergyperson, and lawyer before completing this document. https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/lifecare/LCP_Packet_fillable-mental-health.pdf
- General POA: (financial and property) This document allows you to name someone who can make financial and property decisions on your behalf. This document can stop the courts from stepping in and taking control of your finances if you are mentally or physically unable to make decisions for yourself. Again, pick someone you trust who will be your advocate. https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscDocs/pdf/gnpoa10f-iz.pdf
This document allows you to indicate what medical treatments you do and do not want to be used to keep you alive. Consider what you believe is a good quality of life. Do you want all life saving/extending measures to be taken? Or only measures that do not have a high likelihood of resulting in cognitive or physical deficits.
https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/lifecare/LCP_Packet_fillable_livingwill.pdf
This document allows you to indicate if you want your heart restarted if it has stopped beating via cardiopulmonary resuscitation or a device that delivers an electric shock to stimulate the heart.
https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/lifecare/LCP_Packet_fillable-DNR.pdf
This is the Arizona Medicaid program to help seniors and others with disabilities to afford the care they need. It is a two step qualification process to determine eligibility. First the state must determine if you are able to afford your care. Second (if they determine you are below their threshold of income and assets)the state must determine if you physically have the need for assistance with your care.
https://www.azahcccs.gov/Members/Downloads/Publications/DE-828_english.pdf