Elder Care

At Home Nursing Care or Other Assistance

As an overview, there are certain requirements which must be met to provide At-Home Nursing Care covered by Medicare. Please note that Medicare imposes strict limits in this area since it has a great potential for abuse. Currently, Medicare is limited to coverage for nursing care, physical, speech and vocational therapy and certain home health aides.

The Operation of a Living Will

In many states, a Living Will becomes effective when it is signed, and witnessed by two witnesses. Frequently, the signature of the maker must also be notarized.

Check your state law:

Special Durable Power of Attorney

You might wish to open a sample of a Special Durable Power of Attorney in a separate window to follow along with this discussion. You will need Adobe Reader to open this PDF. You may download it here.

State Laws Regulating Durable Powers of Attorney

Most states recognize Durable Powers of Attorney. However, like Durable Powers of Attorney for Healthcare, the laws in each state vary. Each state has their own requirements and limitations. Some states recognize that a Durable Power of Attorney will take effect immediately upon execution. This means that you should be extremely careful before you draft this document and have it executed.

Living Wills

In the unfortunate event that you become ill or mentally incapacitated, it is important for you to have a means of expressing what medical procedures you want to be performed before you become sick. It is surprisingly easy to do so with a Living Will. When creating a Living Will, you must be of sound mind and not incapacitated.

The Living Will - A Sample

You might wish to click to open a sample of a Living Will in another window to follow along with this discussion. You will need Adobe Reader to open this PDF. You may download it here.

Another Living Will Sample

You might wish to click to open this sample Living Will in another window to follow along with this discussion. You will need Adobe Reader to open this PDF. You may download it here.

Hospice Care Defined

What is hospice care? Hospice care is generally provided for terminally ill patients, and does not contemplate care for patients who are likely to recover from illnesses, regardless of severity. Hospice care generally involves the process of managing an illness and not curing an illness. The rules covering hospice care are detailed and also vary from state to state.

The Major Elements In Life Planning

Several elements are of paramount concern in thinking about one's future. These elements include:

The Need for Healthcare Directives

Living longer in the United States is a great thing; however, this has caused a number of medical problems. Some of these issues and concerns have serious legal consequences. Quite simply, one of the problems is that many Americans are living into well-advanced years and as a result, they are suffering the effects of older age.

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