CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email:   Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado – July 13, 20920

The Caring Generation® What is a DNR—Do Not Resuscitate?

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation® family talk radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, July 15, on the Bold Brave Media Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation® aired initially from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado.

What is a DNR—Do Not Resuscitate?

On this talk radio program for caregivers and aging adults, Wilson talks about the meaning of do not resuscitate and answers the question of what is a DNR? The coronavirus has increased awareness about end of life care planning. The elderly and persons with chronic diseases are more susceptible to the virus, and in some cases, the result is death. When the coronavirus began, the news was obsessed with the idea of "not having enough ventilators." 

The problem in Wilson's opinion is the public lacks an accurate understanding of what being on a ventilator means—a ventilator is life support, which many elderly say they don't want.

Why Confusion Exists About End of Life Care

Why all the confusion? In part, it's because doctors don't know how to talk to patients about end of life care, which is more than the idea of extreme measures like using a ventilator. As court-appointed guardian and medical power of attorney for clients in her previous company, The Care Navigator, Wilson understands the confusion by consumers about, do not resuscitate orders, and vague language in a living will document.

While elder law, probate, and estate planning attorneys draft medical power of attorney documents and living wills, they don't possess the medical expertise of a care manager or professional medical fiduciary. According to Wilson,

"Clients came to my office to ask me if their medical power of attorney and living will document were created with the right wording. They were looking for a discussion of the "what ifs" of what really happens in hospital emergency rooms after surgery or recovery from a severe illness. Clients wanted to know—beyond the standard language in estate planning documents—what choices they really would be making and the short and long-term effect of these choices."

During the time Wilson served as a court-appointed guardian and a medical power of attorney, she was responsible for making healthcare and life-changing decisions for her clients. These decisions included placing clients on hospice care, and following wishes expressed in a living will document to end life.

A Physician's Guide to Talking About End-of-Life Care

The guest for this program is Dr. Richard Balaban, Medical Director of the Department of Care Integration at Cambridge Health Alliance and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Balaban has served in leadership roles for research studies evaluating care transitions and developing cost-effective programs to support patients after hospital discharge. He will be discussing information and answering questions from his article, A Physician's Guide to Talking About End-of-Life Care. 

Join Pamela on The Caring Generation to learn more about do not resuscitate and what is a DNR? The Caring Generation® radio program airs live at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern every Wednesday night. Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website and all major podcast sites. More information about onsite and online video conferencing, virtual training and development, and online education and support are available on Wilson's website.

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