DNR or Full Code for Resuscitation?

Thank you for bringing up this topic. There is no better information than asking people who have gone through the experience. Two resources helped me when my father was ill: The book, "Hard Choices for Loving People: CPR, Feeding Tubes, Palliative Care, Comfort Measures, and the Patient with a Serious Illness" By Hank Dunn. This book was published several years ago so maybe it has been updated. Probably given to me by Hospice. The other was an outreach doctor or nurse practitioner his health insurance sent to visit him in rehab after a fall. He was in his 90s then. They wanted me to update the DNR that he and my mother had signed 20 years previously. There are now more choices. She walked me through it and gave me the benefit of her knowledge in a caring and compassionate way.

I discovered a way to beat the tax system. I had a lawyer create an revokable trust and turned all my assets over to it. When I die, the trust becomes non revokable according to MN law. I also updated my will and the off spring who can participate in the estate trust. Recently, we copied all of the documents--will trust, DNR/DNI. cover letter expressing my wishes to memory sticks and sent them to all. 5 of 6 of my children, thanked me for the info. The 6th one has become an outsider and a real PITA (pain in the ...) My lawyer has updated copies. Mayo Clinic has the updated DNR/DNI document.
The process for creating and updating all of the paperwork is important and necessary. Everyone should--I think MUST--do this task.

@rollingf I agree. It's your last chance, post mortem, to have an influence on those left behind, loved and unloved. Lovable and detestable. Better make it good 'n sober, ideally useful, foolproof, comprehensive, and final. Kind would be nice. 😀

Please see an attorney for advice on estate planning. For long term care Medicaid a 5 year lookback period normally applies. So the transfer of funds to a Trust or elsewhere might not be helpful if it occurs during the lookback period. Expert advice is crucial.

@celia16 Ah yes, the lookback - but the trust still holds the assets, they have not gone to beneficiaries yet. Hence the assets are first used for one's support, and the remainder passes to the beneficiaries. One of my best friends is navigating these waters right now, Mom's needs were covered and the last bits will be distributed soon after he is sure all final bills are paid,

@susanejw you might be able to find it on your state’s health website. I live in Oregon and downloaded it from there. I filled in the blank and had the witness sign it. When I go in for surgery this week I will take it to be scanned in at the hospital.

@susanejw

Don't know where you are but in North Carolina I will have speak with my doctor about it. It takes a doctor's order and only doctors can get the form from the state. I imagine it is the same in all states. Or if one is a hospice patient they can provide it with the hospice physician.

My humble view is that DNR decision(s) should be made based on the specific healthcare settings. How is the healthcare setting staffed? That is, what is the ratio of patients to nurses in day-to-day practice (on all shifts and days of the week)? Is there some flu or worse filling up the medical setting with patients? Once you sign a DNR form when push comes to shove, my observation (based on from where I once worked) is you will be sent out of the intensive care floor door first should they need more beds in practice. They should be transferring patients to their partnering hospital when they are short of critical care beds, but I didn't see that happen. Your 1-to-2-person patient ratio is now higher on another floor (If you want less attention great!). The ideal is to avoid CPR in the first place and having an attentive nurse keeping close tabs over you helps keep the need for CPR at bay. If you live near a great medical center perhaps it is safer to specify your specific wishes, otherwise beware! Note that I have been assuming DNR patients still are rating intensive care beds.

@rollingf A friend had a Trust and either the lawyer or the Grantor failed to fund the Trust. Funding the Trust means putting those assets one has, like real estate, in the name of the Trust by way of a deed .....stating the asset is part of the Trust.

The other thing that they did not do was file the Memorandum Page with the state.
There are many things to be sure one fully knows and understands.
I find that our working through doing the actual tasks ourselves and researching the matter allows for better thoughts, better preparation with an attorney and the legal paperwork itself. Trying to do the tasks helps to think through the entire matter fully. It does require time to do so and that can be hard to come by.

A Revocable Trust, from my understanding does not protect one from inheritance taxes, and taxes in general. My understanding is that a Trust helps eliminate probate. Is that your understanding.

Also, have you ever walked through a nursing home that dedicates the facility to Medicaid patients? A Medicaid Nursing Facility.
Barbara

@sueinmn Reality, there is much to be sure one understands and not take for granted, even with having an attorney. Reality, mistakes are made by us, doctors and attorneys.

Often a Trust, just as a Will, needs to be amended. That I have had to do several times with the passing of family members , due to life experiences as I went along in life and how many things change with time.

Yes, the assets are yours and counted as yours until it is time to pass the assets onto the beneficiaries or pay the Successor Trustees their fees, if they are entitled to them and if the take them if they are entitled to a fee. Some states have a standard fee.
Up until that time it is still the Grantor/Trustee's money due to being the Beneficiary of the Trust before their death.
Barbara