Understanding DNR Orders

A DNR Order is short for a “Do Not Resuscitate” Order. It is a legal document that states that if an emergency medical event occurs and resuscitative action is needed to save someone’s life, those resuscitative actions should not happen.

 

There are a number of steps that should be completed prior to finalizing a DNR. First and foremost, it is important that you or your loved one consult with a doctor at the beginning. They can give better guidance on what this will look like in practice and in what kinds of situations it will be employed. 

 

Once this conversation occurs, discussing the order with family members should occur. A DNR can be a huge shock for a family. They can come as a surprise to other loved ones, especially if they haven’t been talked about ahead of time. Additionally, this can be quite difficult for family members to fully comprehend or accept. It’s hard to know that action could potentially save a loved one’s life and then not take that action. This is certainly a difficult and awkward conversation, but it is vital for ensuring that a loved one’s wishes are accurately carried out–even if not everyone agrees with that decision.

 

 

There is paperwork that must be completed, too. This can be obtained through an elder care attorney or through many medical practices. It’s important that your doctor and hospital have a copy of this paperwork so that your wishes can be completed. You may want to look at getting some sort of bracelet or card to carry so that if you are travelling or are brought to a medical practice outside of where you typically go that your wishes can be made known.

 

Many people get a health care proxy or have someone with power of attorney for them as they get older. This might be you, the reader, in this situation. Again, ongoing conversations are important because they make sure that all necessary parties are aware of what the wishes are and how they will be carried out. These conversations increase the likelihood that wishes will be accurately fulfilled.

 

Working with a doctor doesn’t stop at step one. It should be an ongoing conversation with your doctor, even after all of these steps are completed. Medical care–even DNRs–is ongoing for life.

 

Communicating wishes to other team members, such as senior care providers, is also ongoing. If you or a loved one are receiving senior care of any sort, ensuring that your service is up to date and onboard with your family’s wishes will get you one step closer to achieving your goals. 

 

Here at Paradise In-Home Care, we know that this can be a difficult and sensitive process. We hope to make it as simple and stress-free as possible. Whether it’s a DNR or something else, no one understands just how complicated care can be more than we do.

 

If you’d like to talk more about how senior care might fit in with your family’s life, let us know. We’re always here to talk more.