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Advance Directive of Care |
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An Advance Directive of Care is a written statement that conveys the level of care the resident would want if he/she were not able to speak for him or herself. If the resident became unconscious, semiconscious or otherwise incapacitated and unable to direct his or her care, the Advance Directive would be extremely helpful to family and professional caregivers as a guide to the kind of care the resident would want. The Directive is not a legal document as such and it may be changed by the resident at any time. As long as the resident is able to give direction to family and caregivers, a document like this would not be used. The resident will be able to complete an Advance Directive of Care with his or her physician. It will be kept in the medical record and be reviewed yearly, or more often if necessary, to assure that the resident's wishes will be carried out in the event of incapacitating illness or injury. The Advance Directive of Care should indicate the resident's desire to be resuscitated or not to be resuscitated in the event of cardio-pulmonary failure. A resident is able to request that he/she will not receive Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. This is indicated in a "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" order completed with the resident's physician and which is signed by the resident's physician. |
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