I have full Power Of Attorney for a close relative.
She lives in California.
She has been in very poor mental and physical condition, both of which were worsened in a recent home accident three weeks ago.
She was in the hospital for 12 days, at the end of which her Doctors told me that her dementia (already severe) will only worsen. Her moments of relative lucidity are few and far between.
Given her age (87), condition, and dementia, her physical injuries are best left to “self-heal” as best they can.
They strongly advised me to sign a Do Not Resuscitate Order, ASAP. Which I did.
Her overall prognosis is: Very Poor
She’s now in a Skilled Nursing Facility, and between her other doctors and various Social Services she’s being subjected to “Rehabilitation Therapy” which has no chance of improving or prolonging her life, and has only added to her pain and confusion.
I want to use my POA to direct her care to be limited to Palliative only. My question is: What Form should I use for this purpose? I don’t want to putz around faking it in my own words, I want something with teeth.
Had she completed an Advance Directive when she still retained mental faculties? If so, that’s what you need. If not, you can download the PDF here - I’m not sure about the law regarding you filling this out for her now.
And if you have full power of attorney, are you sure you need a form at all? I’d think POA should give you everything you need to direct her health care at this point, including restricting it to palliative care only. It might be best to start this with a conversation with her doctors, and resort to additional legal documents only if necessary.