Preparation and Assistance for Patients’ Final Days

Linda Marsa’s article “Last Days Needn’t Be Spent in Agony,” as well as other related stories in the Aug. 20 issue, were excellent and, in my case, very timely. I just realized that it was time to update my 10-year-old documents, such as my living will and the durable power of attorney for health care. I am grateful for the Web sites you listed for downloading blank forms.

I would just like to add something I learned from experience. It is true that many private insurance plans do not specifically cover in-home hospice care; however, many insurance companies’ case managers will be humane and understanding enough to approve hospice care under the policy’s “visits by registered nurses” provision.

GORDON L. FROEDE

Cheviot Hills

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Good job on your feature on care at the end of life. To avoid any potential confusion, here are just two small clarifications regarding Denise Hamilton’s excellent article on putting your wishes in writing. First, while Hamilton is right that generally two documents are needed--a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care--in California, these are combined into a single document, called an Advance Health Care Directive. (This document also allows you to donate organs at your death, if you wish to do so.) Second, the Web site given in the article directs California residents properly to this combined document. (Use the https://www.partnershipforcaring.org site; the https://www.choices.org site only refers you to it anyway.)

RICHARD BLACKER

Santa Monica

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Every adult should take the time to properly execute a health care directive and share the information with his or her family and physician.

JOSEPH E. BELTRAN

Lake Forest

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For many, the months or days preceding death involve incapacity and a loss of control over decisions about their care. They need others to make decisions for them. Families and friends make those decisions; their job is to follow the wishes of the person who has become incapacitated. Hamilton points out the availability of “Five Wishes,” a useful communication tool from Aging With Dignity of Florida. Another tool, created by a California nonprofit specifically to work within California’s revised health care decision-making laws, is the “Your Way” guide created by HELP. It is a 16-page, plain-language communication tool that is free to any requesting household--and we have distributed thousands of copies throughout California and across the United States. “Your Way” is available for viewing on the HELP Web site (https://www.help4srs.org), along with a free downloadable power of attorney for health care.

EDWARD W. LONG

Executive Director, HELP

Torrance