Archive for the ‘guest blog’ Category

Guest Blog: Palliative Care and Palliative Care Laws in New York: What Patients Should Know

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Our guest blogger this week is David C. Leven, JD, Executive Director, Compassion & Choices of New York

Palliative care can help improve your quality of life. You should know what palliative care is and how two New York State laws effective in 2011can help you learn about your palliative care options and receive timely palliative care.  The Palliative Care Information Act (PCIA), Public Health Law Section 2997-c,and the Palliative Care Access Act (PCAA), Public Health Law Section 2997-d, define palliative care as “health Care treatment, including interdisciplinary end-of-life care, and consultation with patients and family members, to prevent or relieve pain and suffering and to enhance the patient’s quality of life, including hospice care.” The care provided can address not only pain and other symptoms but depression, anxiety, psycho-social and spiritual issues as well.

Palliative Care Access Act (PCAA)

The PCAA  requires that  hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and enhanced and special needs assisted living residences establish policies and procedure to provide patients with advanced, life limiting conditions and illnesses who might benefit from palliative care, with information and counseling regarding such options appropriate to the patient.. It also requires that they facilitate access to appropriate palliative care and pain management consultations and services including but not limited to referrals consistent with patient needs and preferences.

Palliative Care Information Act (PCIA)

Terminally ill patients now have a clearly defined right to receive information and counseling about their palliative care and end-of-life options, including hospice. This will enable them to make informed treatment decisions during the final months of their lives. The law states, in part:

“If a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness or condition, the patient’s attending health care practitioner shall offer to provide the patient with information and counseling regarding palliative care and end-of-life options appropriate to the patient, including but not limited to: the range of options appropriate to the patient; the prognosis, risks and benefits of the various options; and the patient’s legal rights to comprehensive pain and symptom management at the end of life; and information regarding other appropriate treatment options should the patient wish to initiate or continue treatment.”

The information and counseling under both laws should be provided to those lawfully authorized to make decisions for patients who lack capacity to make medical decisions, such as a health care agent.

What You Can Do to Get Palliative Care and the Benefits Required Under the Laws 

If you are a patient and believe that you may qualify for the benefits of either law or both laws or if you are a health care agent or surrogate for a patient who you believe has or may have a terminal or advanced life limiting illness or condition, then you might consider discussing this with the appropriate health care practitioner. If you are a health care professional and you believe that a patient of yours has not yet benefitted by the requirements of the PCIA and/or PCAA, then you might consider discussing this with the appropriate health care practitioner responsible for compliance with the applicable law (s) after conferring with the patient.

Resource: The New York State Department of Health website, questions and answers and guidance.

 

Learn more about Palliative Care and the Palliative Care Laws in New York, by visiting  Compassion and Choices.


Learn more about our elder law services by clicking here,  www.elderlawnewyork.com.

 

Traveling with an Older Adult

Wednesday, June 25th, 2014

By Susan Yubas, founder of FYI Senior Living Solutions, Inc.


As we prepare for a trip with older members of our family, we want the plans we make to be as uncomplicated and stress free as possible.  “Ha, ha,” you laugh.  Travel is complicated and stressful on its own these days, let alone when you are traveling with an older adult who may be frail.

Here are some tips to ease the way:

  • Review your travel plans with their personal physician so you know if there are any special needs you should be aware of and plan for in advance of your arrival.
  • Make sure you know the health insurance company’s requirements for out of network or emergency care – sometimes a family definition of emergency is different from that of the insurer.  Bring a copy of insurance cards with you on the trip.
  • Bring a current medication list and medications in their original pharmacy bottles.  Carry the medications with you – never pack them in checked luggage or in a place that you cannot get to easily.
  • If an older adult has difficulty walking long distances or easily gets short of breath, arrange for a wheelchair.  It is important that you do this well in advance of arrival at the airport as having the wheelchair available at curbside will allow you to navigate security and get to the gate more easily and safely.
  • Familiarize yourself with available medical resources at your destination in advance.
  • If you will be traveling quite a distance, you may want to consider travel insurance that includes medical transport and/or trained personnel to accompany you to a care destination should the need for urgent care arise.
  • Be flexible with your schedule and enjoy your trip!

Susan Yubas is a Certified Senior Advisor and the founder of FYI Senior Living Solutions, Inc.  She will help you articulate your goals,identify issues you may not have considered and direct you to appropriate professionals to help you implement what is needed.

 

Was this article of interest to you? If so, please LIKE our Facebook Page by clicking here.