Advanced Planning                                

 

Power of Attorney for Health Care

Legally called “Declaration to Physicians”, the living will document makes it possible for a Wisconsin adult to state his or her preference for life sustaining procedures and feeding tubes, in the event the person is in a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state.  Your living will does not become active until two physicians (one who is the attending physician) have examined and diagnosed you, and certified in writing, that you have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state.  Your physician is required by law to comply with your living will.  If the physician refuses or fails to comply with your directives, and refuses or fails to transfer you to another physician, the doctor can be charged with unprofessional conduct.  The living will is only activated if you have a terminal illness or are in a persistent vegetative state, not under any other medical conditions.

 

Guardianship

Guardianship is similar, yet vastly different from a Power of Attorney.  A guardianship can only be established by the Court of the county in which the person resides.  The Judge must determine if a person is incompetent and no longer able to make good decisions about their own physical needs and/or their finances.  The Judge relies heavily on medical testimony or documentation to make the decision.  A person cannot voluntarily appoint a guardian.

 

In a guardianship, the guardian makes all decisions for the individual regarding finances, health care and other issues that arise. In the case of a guardianship where the family cannot decide on who should become the guardian, oftentimes a corporate guardian will be assigned.  Since a guardian is Court-appointed, detailed yearly reports need to be submitted to the Court regarding the care the individual is receiving and their financial status.  All guardians, corporate or individual, must complete this.

 

 

 

Compare & Contrast Power of Attorney, Guardianship, Living Wills

 

Power of Attorney - Financial

Power of Attorney –Health Care

Guardianship

Living Wills

Agent could be someone you don’t know

No

No

Yes

No

Can I cancel the action?

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Can I change the document?

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Can I have a separate financial and health agent

 

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Not related to finances

Control over Finances

 

 

Yes

No

Yes

No

Control over Health Care

No

Yes

Yes

Only in a terminal condition

Court Ordered

 

 

No

No

Yes

No

Covers all aspects of financial care

Yes

No

Yes

No

Covers all aspects of health care

No

Yes

Yes

Only effective in a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state.

Legally Overseen

No

No

Yes

No

Needs to be Activated

No

Yes

Effective as soon as Judge appoints a Guardian

Yes

Voluntary

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

 

 

Do Not Resuscitate Bracelet (DNR)

A DNR order may be issued in certain circumstances if a patient with a qualifying medical condition requests that CPR not be done.  The patient and their physician make this decision after discussing future treatment options.  A special DNR bracelet informs first responders, EMT’s, paramedics, and emergency room personnel not to attempt CPR when a patient is wearing an approved bracelet.  These rules only apply to the emergency personnel noted above, who are primarily pre-hospital and emergency room department health care providers.  Family members cannot be given bracelets to put on the person.  DNR bracelets must be honored unless the patient revokes the order or the bracelet appears to be damaged or tampered with. 

 

 

More Information

 

  For more information or help on any of the above listed topics call one or more of the following numbers:

Information Source

Address

Phone Number

Website

Community Coalition for Life Planning

Vernon Memorial Health Care

507 S Main St .

Viroqua, WI   54665

 

(608) 637-2101

 

http://www.vmh.org/

Vernon County Dept. of Human Services

318 Fairlane Drive #100

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-5210

 

Vernon County Unit on Aging

E7410 Count Road BB #219

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-5201

http://www.vernoncounty.org/aging

Vernon County UW-Extension Office

E7410 Count Road NN

Viroqua, WI 54665

(608) 637-5276

http://www.uwex.edu/

 

 

Funeral Home Listings

Funeral Home

Address

Phone Number

Picha Funeral Home

908 Prairie Ave.

Hillsboro, WI

(608) 489-2516

Seland Funeral Home

204 Central Ave.

Coon Valley, WI

(608) 452-3128

1-866-330-3128

Seland-Huston Funeral Home

203 North State St .

La Farge, WI

(608) 625-4244

1-888-303-3910

Sime Funeral Home

106 South 4th Street

Readstown, WI

(608) 629-5651

Thorson Funeral Home

 

856 S.  Rusk Ave.

Viroqua, WI

(608) 637-7041

 

Torkelson Funeral Home

718 Wisconsin

Cashton, WI

(608) 654-7764

 

Torkelson Funeral Service

720 Madison

Ontario, WI

(608) 337-4787

 

Vosseteig Funeral Home

708 S. Hwy. 14

Westby, WI

(608) 634-2100

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home

320 Main Street

De Soto, WI

(608) 648-2100

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home

Henthorn Memorial

Viola, WI

(608) 627-2100

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home

123 West Decker St  Viroqua , WI

(608) 637-2100

 

(Funeral Homes also offer assistance in advance planning.)

 

  

Monument Companies

Company

Address

Phone Number

Krause Monument

 

806 South Main Street

Viroqua , WI 54665

 

(608) 637-7726

1-800-657-4826

 

Sunburst Monuments

S6919 State Hwy 27

Viroqua , WI 54665

 

(608) 675-3314

  

Vernon County Cemeteries