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FAQ: Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act

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The Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications prescribed by a doctor expressly for that purpose.

What is Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act?

The Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications prescribed by a doctor expressly for that purpose.

Who can participate?

A patient must be:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • An Oregon resident
  • Capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself
  • Diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months, as determined by two doctors.

Can a patient take their Death with Dignity medication while staying at the hospital?

No, doctors may choose to participate or not. Some employers may prohibit doctors from participating in this process. A doctor must be an MD or DO licensed in Oregon.

How does a patient get a prescription from a participating physician?

  1. The patient must make two verbal requests to the attending physician, separated by at least 15 days.
  2. The patient must provide a written request to the attending physician, signed in the presence of two witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient.
  3. The attending physician and a consulting physician must confirm the patient’s diagnosis and prognosis.
  4. The attending physician and the consulting physician must determine whether the patient is capable of making and communicating health care decisions for him/herself.
  5. If either physician believes the patient’s judgment is impaired by a psychiatric or psychological disorder (such as depression), the patient must be referred to a psychological examination.
  6. The attending physician must inform the patient of feasible alternatives to the Act, including comfort care, hospice care and pain control.
  7. The attending physician must request, but may not require, the patient to notify their next-of-kin of the prescription request.

 

Must a physician be present?

The law does not require the presence of a physician. The patient self-administers the prescribed medication; it is not administered by the physician. A physician may be in attendance if the patient wishes it.

If a patient’s doctor does not participate in the Death with Dignity Act, how can he/she get a prescription?

The patient must find another doctor (MD or DO) who is licensed to practice in Oregon and who is willing to participate.

Does insurance cover medical care that is part of the Death with Dignity Act?

As with any medical procedure, insurers will determine what is covered by policy. However, federal funding cannot be used for services rendered under the Death with Dignity Act.

 

For more information: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PROVIDERPARTNERRESOURCES/EVALUATIONRESEARCH/DEATHWITHDIGNITYACT

Article Provided By:
Salem Health
Call 503-561-5200

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Senior vaccinations are important!

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Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu and pneumonia vaccines caught up today. Talk to your doctor, and take control of your health.

Senior vaccinations are essential. As we age, our bodies’ immune systems become weaker, making us more at risk for health complications due to influenza (flu) and pneumonia. In the United States, an estimated 70 to 85 percent of influenza-related deaths occur among people 65 years and older, and each year more than 18,000 older adults succumb to pneumococcal pneumonia.

What is Influenza?

Influenza is a viral respiratory infection that spreads easily from person to person by coughing, sneezing and touching. It may cause a high fever, along with body aches and weakness.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by a virus, bacteria or, less commonly, fungi. In the U.S., the most common bacterial cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae (also called pneumococcus).

How can you protect yourself from the flu or pneumonia?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine every year. Senior vaccinations can prevent illness and complications that result in hospitalizations.

For adults 65 years and older, the CDC recommends two pneumococcal vaccines: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. The timing of these two vaccinations may depend on your health conditions, so talk with your doctor to learn what is best for you.

Some Common Flu Myths

Myth: I don’t need a flu shot every year.

Fact: Flu viruses change each year, and vaccines cover the top three to four viruses most likely to cause illness in the coming season. Antibodies from the influenza vaccine do not last more than one flu season.

Myth: The influenza vaccine gave me the flu.

Fact: The vaccine is designed to cover the top three to four viruses, but a person may get a different virus that was not included in the vaccine. However, flu symptoms may still be milder if you had a flu shot, due to cross-protection.

Myth: It is better to wait and get the influenza vaccination later in the flu season.

Fact: Vaccine protection from influenza lasts the entire flu season. It’s best to get the flu shot as soon as it is available. The CDC recommends vaccination prior to November, but vaccination any time in the flu season (August–May) is beneficial. Flu cases tend to peak between November and March.

Don’t become a statistic!

Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu and pneumonia vaccines caught up today. Talk to your doctor, and take control of your health.

Article Provided by:
HealthInsight Oregon
503-279-0100
www.healthinsight.org

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Get the best medicare coverage at the best price for YOU

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In order to achieve the selection of an optimal plan for you, it is often helpful to seek the services of a licensed broker who specializes in Medicare.

The fact that there are an abundance of insurance plans available is only beneficial if you’re able to determine your unique needs and compare those needs against benefits contained within multiple and varied insurance plans.  In order to achieve the selection of an optimal plan for you, it is often helpful to seek the services of a licensed broker who specializes in Medicare.

While a representative from a specific insurance company may be licensed to sell you a particular plan, keep in mind that if they only represent one company they only understand and believe in that one product. Local health insurance general agencies have licensed brokers who are trained experts and certified to represent a multitude of plans in your area.  Seeking the advice of a trained broker who specializes in Medicare plans allows you to relate your needs and circumstances to someone who knows what types of plans are available in your area and can professionally recommend appropriate coverage to suit your specific situation.

Remember, that one of the most important things to discover before making your selection is which insurance plans your doctor accepts.
A plan may not serve your specific needs if your doctor does not accept it, and doctors are not required to accept every plan.

In addition, by securing a plan through a broker you are in turn getting an advocate, meaning that if insurance issues or circumstances should arise that require assistance, your broker is able to help with the resolution of your issue. Enrolling directly with a plan leaves you, and you alone, to communicate with the plan’s customer service department and all of the answering system queues that often go along with that.

No matter how you make your Medicare coverage selection, it is often useful to review your plan options annually as plan benefits can change from year to year and what worked for you one year may not in the next.  If you’re already on Medicare, you may want to mark your calendar now to remember to review your plan options sometime in early October. Typically, the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period, where you can make a plan change without penalty, is October 15th – December 7th.

Article Provided by: Lance Ghiorso,
Connexion Insurance Solutions
866-448-0160
www.MedicareConnexion.com 

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Balance and falls

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Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults in America.

It is estimated that one out of three adults over the age of 65 lose balance and falls each year and less than half of those talk to their healthcare provider about it! Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults in America. Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually and more than 27,000 deaths.  In 2013, the total cost of fall injuries in the United States was $34 billion and is expected to reach $67.7 billion by the year 2020.

Unfortunately, many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness and, in turn, increases their actual risk of falling.

A tendency to fall and symptoms of dizziness should not be dismissed as unavoidable consequences of aging.   There are four main systems that affect our balance and, while all of these systems can be affected by the aging process, there are things individuals can do to minimize the decline of these.   

Vision is one thing that affects our balance and falls . There are age-related changes that can occur with aging including cataracts, glaucoma, floaters, drooping eyelids and macular degeneration.  Getting regular eye exams by a professional is the best way to make sure you are minimizing these impacts on your overall eye health.

As we age, blood flow to the inner ear decreases and the number of nerve cells in the vestibular system decrease.

In addition, there are disease processes that can affect the vestibular system, including stroke, BPPV, Meniere’s disease, and vestibular neuritis.

Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense movement within the joints and the position of the joint in space.  This occurs by messages being sent from receptors in joints to the brain.  Some things that can affect these receptors as we age are diabetes, which can cause peripheral neuropathy, decreased flexibility and arthritis.

Lastly, muscle strength and flexibility can largely affect balance and falls. The weaker the muscles in the legs and core are, the more at risk for falls you may be. The Center for Disease Control recommends older adults get 30 minutes, at least 5 days per week, consisting of aerobic activity, resistance training, stretching and balance exercises.

Also, dizziness or feelings of unsteadiness are possible prescription medication side effects or drug interactions. Many prescription medications can cause dizziness, drowsiness and even weakness. Be sure to check with your physician if you have noticed a change in balance or dizziness, especially if there has recently been a change in medications.

If you have questions about the best exercise prescription for your specific needs, asking your physician for a referral to a physical therapist would be a great way to go.

Article Provided by:
PT Northwest
www.ptnorthwest.com

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