by Staff Writer on January 27, 2010
An Explanation of Advanced Health Directives
An advanced directive is a document in which a person states his wishes or provides directions regarding how he would want to be treated medically, should something happen to make him incapable of making such a decision. It is a document that comes into action, if a person loses the mental capability of making decisions on his own, perhaps due to an illness.
If you’re caring for an elderly parent, for example your aging father, it makes sense for him to create a medical advanced directive as it provides an advance safeguard for instances should he become mentally incapable of making any decisions. He can decide in advance, whether or not to prolong his life and also decide upon the quality of life he wishes to enjoy in case of terminal illness.
The main reason why you might help your elderly father write a medical advanced directive or have one developed by an attorney is that should a situation arise in which he cannot speak for himself then the help of this document provides direction regarding his health treatment while incapacitated. This document is known by various names including as living will, advanced directives, advance decisions, advance health care directives, advanced medical directive, end-of-life directive, and as a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR).
Somewhat complicated to the lay person, the advanced healthcare directive document is one that may include numerous other elements including a living will as well as health care proxy and these can be used individually or in combination in which case the Declarant can spell out more comprehensive instructions regarding his medical treatment during times he may not be capable of making decisions on his own.
Purpose
Medical advanced directives were formulated in response to the many rapid changes taking place in medical technologies. It was found that when people were admitted to health care institutions many of them were kept alive needlessly which led to increased expenditure, pain and emotional turmoil for the affected person and their family members.
The medical advanced directive offers a person confidence that he will be treated according to his pre-determined wishes. An advanced health directive can cover almost every conceivable health issue that he feels may affect him, and he can also change and alter this document and even revoke it when his mental faculties return or health improves.
Difficult to Implement? No.
It is not difficult to implement medical a advanced directive though in case your aging father is admitted to a hospital he must inform the staff about the existence of such a document. Many times upon admittance to a hospital, the admissions specialist will ask for a copy of this document to be posted in the file at the time of initial admission. At home, this document must be kept in a safe place, though not a secret place. A copy of the medical advanced directive created by a Declarant should be given to his doctor and attorney as well as to family members or friends. By letting more people learn about the existence of such a document he stands a better chance of having his wishes carried out. As long as your aging father understands the medical advanced directive and has created the document in a proper manner he can rest assured that his wishes will be carried out to his satisfaction. If your father has a family attorney this document can be easily prepared by the attorney. Online forms are also available. An advanced directive example is available for review on our website.
by Staff Writer on January 26, 2010
A home is a place to feel very comfortable and safe, and it should also be a place where everyone (including elderly family members) can move about without limitations. We take such things for granted, but when it concerns an elderly parent, home modifications to improve independent senior living may be necessary and the kitchen is one place where you may need to make changes. Making kitchen modifications requires at the very least that you are able to create a kitchen that is easily useable by an elderly parent.
When it concerns making kitchen modifications as a part of home modifications for the elderly, the challenges facing you can be especially tough and unfortunately, because the kitchen is a vital part of a home, you cannot ignore the need to consider such modifications. However, with a little research and effort, it is possible to make the necessary home modifications for the elderly to create a kitchen that will allow better independent senior living.
Work Triangle
Before making kitchen modifications you will need to create the perfect appliance and worktop arrangements. The traditional work triangle is a good option to promote independent senior living and enable an aging parent to remain living independently and caring for him or herself. A good work triangle is where the refrigerator, sink and cooking area are all connected to each other as closely but as conveniently as possible to allow easy movement, especially for someone in a wheelchair or wheelchair mobility device.
Refrigerator and Freezer
The best configuration in regard to refrigerator/freezer may be a side-by-side or one with the freezer located below the refrigerator for easy access without standing. When making home modifications for elderly people, you need to ensure that this is appliance is allows for maximum accessibility.
Counters and Work Surfaces
Standard counter surface heights are generally three feet (36”) high which is suitable for a standing person but not for those who are using a lightweight wheelchair or wheelchair mobility device. It is therefore advisable to lower the counter height to thirty, thirty-two and even thirty-four inches. If an elderly parent plans to use a mixer or other counter surface appliance while seated, then the perfect height would be about twenty-seven inches, allowing for better independent senior living in the kitchen.
Cook tops and Ovens
In regard to a cook top, if a cook top is used rather than a stove/oven combination, there should be some space left beneath the cook top so as to allow for the wheelchair to fit in below. An adjustable cook top too is a good idea. When removing items from a cook top, stove, or oven, easy access to a counter surface is necessary to quickly place a hot pan, so cook tops, stoves and ovens should have some open counter space designed adjacent to each. If a stove is used, it is recommended to install a stove with the control knobs located on the front of the stove as opposed to the back wall of the stove. This allows for easy access to the knobs without reaching over a hot stove to turn off the burner. Front burner knobs are not recommended if young children are in the home. Wall mounted ovens may be located lower on the wall for easier access from a wheelchair mobility device.
Cabinet Storage
Getting cabinet storage right is another essential part of home modifications for an elderly parent. It’s recommended that cabinets be located at different heights for different activities. The maximum permissible upper cabinet reach varies: over a counter it can vary from sixty inches to sixty-eight inches; without a counter it can be anything from forty-eight to seventy-seven inches. The greatest height for placing items can vary from forty-eight to sixty-one inches. It may benefit and elderly parent to lower the existing cabinets by about twelve to fifteen inches above counters but without compromising the counter surface that should continue to remain usable. The addition of a freestanding storage cabinet is also recommended as part of necessary kitchen modifications though this is only possible if there is sufficient amount of free space in the kitchen.
Kitchen modifications may be tricky and expensive. Make sure someone does all modifications with experience in home accessibility and adaptability issues. As most Americans prefer to remain living independently at home as they age, it may make sense to help an elderly parent get these changes done that enable independent senior living.
