Library: News Releases
OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahomans have been reading about the way life’s end has gone for Terri Schiavo in Florida, who has been kept alive because she has no advance directive and family members have disagreed as to her care and want it to be different for them.
“The easiest way to control what is done (or not done) for you at the end of your life is to sign an advance directive,” explains State Legal Services Developer Richard Ingham of the Aging Services Division at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
Ingham said OKDHS Aging Services helps individuals and families get this done by supplying free forms and free legal help with filling out advance directives. Oklahoma’s advance directive has been recently revised to allow initials instead of signatures in most places, making it easier to fill out. The revised forms are available by calling toll-free: 1-877-283-4113.
The advance directive is available online in English, Spanish and Vietnamese versions in the OKDHS.org Library.
Ingham is available to speak at no cost anywhere in Oklahoma on end-of- life planning, including the use of the DNR (do not resuscitate) Consent Form and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.
Ingham announced that the theme of Senior Day at the Capitol, to be held March 22, 2004, is “Health Care for All Ages”. This annual meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol will present speakers on the new Medicare rules and the pros and cons of bringing universal health care to Oklahoma. Ingham is available to speak on these topics as well. For more information, call: (405) 522-3069.
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