Legal Rights and Consent:
The following information is provided for guidance only. Consult with legal and medical professionals for information pertinent to your situation for Advanced Directive Care and formal consent for non-family members to visit you for spiritual reasons if you were to be admitted to a hospital or care facility.
Simple Written Direction for Spiritual Care
The Elder can provide a simple written signed permission to the facility manager of the assisted living / rehab /or nursing home to allow a Helper or the Elderberry Volunteer to visit you or be informed if you’ve been moved or have experienced a major change in your medical condition.
In most US states, a patient’s doctor or admitting doctor can determine legally if the elder’s decision-making ability is compromised. Without any referenced signed documentation of the elder’s choice, an elder’s doctor can make decisions that are contrary to the elder’s wishes regardless of the patient’s state of consciousness or clarity during a medical event. So the written Consent Form might also be provided to the patient’s doctor.
Example of a Signed Written Consent Form:
I, Elder’s full legal name, give permission to share medical information and location with [Helper or Elderberry Volunteer’s full name and contact information]. They may receive all my medical information concerning my admittance to a medical facility, or a major life shift, or change of location.
Don’t forget to sign and date the written consent!
A copy of the signed consent form should be kept by the helper or volunteer. Verbal requests often are not remembered by the care facility or doctor at all.
The Limited Health Power of Attorney form:
This form can be carried in a wallet with a driver’s license or ID card and might include contact information for a trusted helper or Subud member. This Limited Health Power of Attorney Form does not pertain to anything other than health decisions alone and would be in force only during times of “unconscious or compromised decision making.”
Helpers and volunteers need to communicate and work harmoniously with the family long before any medical event or situation arises. This will help later on if you wish to sit quietly with the hospitalized elder, as many elders have indicated is sufficient to feel the inward quiet and Latihan.
Reference Resources
Community resources locator for the 50 US States and zip codes:
Elderberry is certified to use the 5-Wishes program
This is a “living will” or an advanced directive program in which you describe your personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes. For further information on how we can support you through this program and forms to use, please contact: elderberry@subudusa.org
Information on Elder needs
A comprehensive listing of elder care services and information at the national level.
Long Term Care Resources
For a majority of states – Long Term Care Resources – web address examples
Ombudsman and Aging in Place
Medicaid
Medicaid is one way to receive long term care in your residence or a care facility – This site relates to Medicaid eligibility.