What kind of advance care planning and legal documents do we need?
The Advance Health Care Directive is an important advance care planning document. This is a written statement about the type of care you want and the people you trust to help you with health care decisions, if you can no longer speak for yourself. It is a gift to family and friends so that they won’t have to guess what your wishes are. It empowers your choice.
Everyone age 18 years or older should have an Advance Health Care Directive.
It is especially important for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, early-stage dementia, or any illness to complete an Advance Health Care Directive as soon as possible. An Advance Health Care Directive can only be completed while the person has capacity to make decisions about their care. The Advance Health Care Directive can be made official by having a notary or two witnesses sign with you. Visit Kokua Mau – Advance Directives to download an Advance Directive with instructions and view frequently asked questions.
Providers Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
It is also important to consider working with professionals to complete a Providers Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form and a durable Power of Attorney.
A POLST form can be completed with a health care professional. “POLST is a form that contains medical orders that specify the type of care you would like in the event of a medical emergency. This form can be quickly understood by all healthcare professionals, including first responders and ambulance personnel,” (Kokua Mau). Click here to learn more.
Power of Attorney
One should seek competent legal advice to draft a Power of Attorney for financial decisions. This is a legal document that designates an agent, usually a trusted family member or friend, to assist you with managing property or business affairs if one day you do not have the capacity to do so. A caregiver will need this Power of Attorney in order to assist with paying bills and managing the funds.
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Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
- Call: 808-536-4302 (OʻAHU) or 1-800-499-4302 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS)
- Main website: https://www.legalaidhawaii.org/
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Hawai‘i State Bar Association
- For attorney referrals and more information, contact the Lawyer Referral & Information Service office at (808) 537-9140 or by email at LRIS@hsba.org.
- Website: https://hsba.org/
Free Legal line
Volunteer attorneys host a telephone hotline every Wednesday evening from the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. only to provide free legal information to the public. Call (808) 537-1868. This one-hour weekly program assists members of the public who may not have access to an attorney and need general advice or who just want to be pointed in the right direction to get information.
Common Caregiving Questions
No worries. Here’s some common questions to help you find quick answers:
- I need a doctor. (neurologist/geriatrician)
- My person has just been diagnosed. What now?
- How do I plan for the future?
- What kind of advance care planning and legal documents do we need?
- I need caregiving tips for daily tasks (e.g. bathing, meals, behaviors, etc.)
- We need direct care services. Where do we go for help?
- We can’t afford care. What do I do?
- I think we need to find a place for them to live with professional care. Where do I start?
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