Do nursing homes have living will forms?

In a perfect world...yes. Ideally, information regarding advanced directives -- i.e. a living will -- is provided and discussed upon admission to the home. If it was not, hopefully the social work coordinator or RN will provide the information upon request. Creating a living will is a very simple endeavor and really requires only a few components. The patient must be alert, oriented and able to reasonably answer questions. Free living will documents are available online that can be printed off, completed and signed by the living will recipient and a witness (non-relative, optimally). Prior planning will prevent headaches -- it is never too early to complete your living will and discuss advance directives with your loved ones. Not only will this save confusion, heartache and grief when the document is needed; a living will can ensure your end of life decisions are carried out exactly as you desire when you can no longer voice your opinion.

In the multiple nursing homes I have worked in or taught in, I have always been able to find advance directive forms (living wills, medical power of attorneys). I am not saying this is the case in all facilities in our area, but it has been the norm from what I have experienced. Upon admission to a nursing home, it is part of the admission nurse's duties to discuss advance directives with the patient and their families, and most have forms to supply if advanced directives are not in place. If the forms happen to be unavailable and the facility has access to a computer, there are multiple sites that allow the forms to be downloaded and printed.

The advanced directive or living will document should be made available in all nursing homes, as it provides clear authority on who is designated to make end of life decisions for the individual and what those decisions are. Record of this should be made available to primary care provider and upon admission to a hospital. It saves the person and family from additional stressors, and avoids confusion in care. the contents of the living will should be documented when the individual is considered in sound judgment and not under coercion from family or healthcare provider. Consideration should also be given to present health status, possibility of rapid impairment to judgment and what the person wants at each end of the health spectrum.