Hi Linda, I had to fill one out in the hospital for my mom and actually many hospitals will have one for you to fill out and sign at your convenience. This is the kind that you can either have a notary sign or witnesses that are not relatives. It can be as limited as what to do with mom in the event of an emergency in the hospital and perhaps you've stepped out to lunch to what to do with her housing/finances. It is wise to talk about it while she is of healthy mind. As hard as it sounds, it is good to get that ugly stuff out of the way and move on to more proactive things like healing.
My name is Kristi and I am my mom's primary caregiver, she is 61, diagnosed 3 weeks ago with stage IV NSCLC with mets to sternum and tailbone. I don't know what is worse about this disease, the pain or the nausea. My mom was very healthy, a Non Smoker, active...and then boom. She cannot be left alone, is nauseous all the time, is a big clot risk, has been in the hospital for 10 days in/out for clots and low temp/blood pressure. I just can't find a good combo of drugs to make her comfortable. She's in that "I just can't find somewhere comfy to lay" stage. And is vomitting anything I give her The onco pharmacist called me today and told me my mom had nausea because she is constipated...GEEZ. I am just numb to all of this but putting on a happy face for my mom because I want her to fight this. She is too young. Sincerely, Kristi