Author Archive eulalia

A health care proxy is a legal document that allows you to name an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf. In order to do this, you must be mentally competent to do so. In other words, you must be able to understand the situation and the alternatives, as well as your own medical condition. You can obtain advance directive forms from your healthcare provider, a lawyer or an advocacy organization. The form will differ slightly from state to state, but there are generally several sections that you must complete and sign. Generally, you will need two witnesses that are 18 years of age or older to be able to act as your witness. Depending on your state, you may need to have the document notarized.

A Health Care Proxy Cannot Override The Patient

When you execute a health care proxy, you are granting your agent the authority to make decisions regarding all aspects of your medical treatment. This includes decisions about life-sustaining procedures and whether or not you want to receive certain treatments. Your agent is required to follow your oral and written instructions as well as your moral and religious beliefs, if you share those with them.

You should choose someone who will be comfortable making these difficult decisions for you and who will be able to carry out your wishes regardless of their own personal beliefs, love for you or the feelings of others around them. Ideally, this person will be able to stand up to medical practitioners in case they do not follow your directions. You should also choose a backup agent in case your first choice cannot act on your behalf.

In addition to a health care proxy, you should consider putting your wishes into writing with a living will. A living will outlines your end-of-life wishes, including specific details of what types of medical treatment you want to receive and how you want your end-of-life care to be carried out. In some states, a living will can override your health care proxy if you change your mind and want to do something different at a later date.

It is important to remember that a health care proxy only makes medical decisions for you, not financial ones. If you wish to grant power of attorney for finances, you should speak with a lawyer about creating a durable power of attorney. Generally, a financial power of attorney does not become effective until you are incapacitated and does not supersede your health care proxy. You can also change your health care proxy at any time, but you must have the mental capacity to do so. Changing your proxy will require that you fill out a new durable power of attorney for health care and notify the people you have previously informed about it. Generally, it is best to keep your health care proxy documents in a safe place with your other important paperwork. You should give a copy to your agent and any family members or close friends that you want to be aware of it.

Dementia is a condition that affects the brain and primarily impacts memory, problem-solving abilities, and daily self-care. Typically, dementia progresses from mild to severe, and a person’s needs will change with each stage. Medicare helps with some care costs at each stage, including tests to assess the severity of a patient’s dementia and home healthcare services. Medicare also covers the first 100 days of nursing home care, hospice, and some medications. If a person wants additional coverage, they can choose a Medicare Advantage plan that is geared towards dementia and long-term care. However, these plans may have deductibles and copayments that differ from Original Medicare.

In the early stage of dementia, people are still living independently but have difficulty remembering names and places. They need reminders about daily tasks like bathing and mealtimes, and may need help with paying bills and managing medication. Depending on their situation, they might need therapy to improve mobility or speech issues, or they can hire home health aides to assist with day-to-day activities. Medicare Part A covers limited home health care and limited home therapy for the early stages of dementia, but it does not cover a nurse’s visit or personal care assistance. It does, however, cover a doctor’s visit to assess the condition and prescriptions for medication.

As dementia progresses into the middle stage, it causes more serious behavioral changes. Patients may struggle to recognize their loved ones, become more irritable and argumentative, and have trouble with balance and coordination. As the disease continues to progress, patients might need more frequent medical visits from a doctor or skilled nursing facility (SNF) stays. During the first 60 days of an SNF stay, Medicare will pay for a patient’s care, and then they will have to pay $200 per day for days 61-100. Medicare will only cover short-term stays for dementia patients if they are hospitalized and require ongoing skilled nursing care or physical, occupational, or speech therapy afterward.

A person in the late stage of dementia is no longer able to communicate or live independently. They may need a full-time caregiver to feed, dress, and bathe them, and they will have more frequent episodes of aggression or depression. During this stage, it is common for patients to forget how to eat, which can lead to malnutrition and weight loss. Home health aides can provide food reminders, as well as recommend ways to make eating easier for them, such as using cups with lids and limiting distractions during mealtime.

Medicare Advantage plans that are geared toward dementia and long-term care can offer additional coverage, such as adult daycare or support services for families. They can also help with transportation assistance, and some may include a doctor network that is specific to dementia. Some also have a monthly fee and offer benefits such as meal delivery and help cleaning. For more assistance with the cost of dementia care, people can consider applying for Medicaid (income qualifications apply), purchasing long-term care insurance in advance, or dipping into personal savings to pay for care.