Helping Caregivers Get Started
- Guides for Planning
Conversation between family, significant others, community agencies and medical providers are very important. Several resources are available to help facilitate the process.
Where to start?
Checklist for Family Caregivers (AARP)
Future Planning Checklist
Future Planning Checklist Supplement
Personal Documents Record
Community Touring Checklist - Healthcare and Medical
The Power of Attorney for Healthcare (POAHC)
A legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make your medical decisions if you become unable (incapacity). The person(s) you name will serve as your healthcare agent(s). You can include instructions about what medical care you do and do not want in the future.
It is important for the individual and their family to have meaningful conversations at the beginning of memory change to allow time for a person-centered discussions. It can be beneficial to meet with a person who is trained to assist families with the conversation and form completion. Contact your local hospital or clinic for assistance.
- Gundersen Health System: 608.775.6000
- Mayo Clinic Health System: 608.392.9754
Review this document to see if an out-of-state Power of Attorney for Health Care is effective in Wisconsin.
- Honoring Choices (Gundersen)
- Advance Care Planning (Mayo)
- WI Power of Attorney for Health Care
- MN Power of Attorney for Health Care
- IA Power of Attorney for Health Care
Instructions to assist completing POAHCMedication Log
- Financial and Legal Planning
Financial Power of Attorney (FPOA)
Allows a trusted representative to manage an individual’s finances in the event the individual becomes incapacitated and is unable to make those decisions. Upon death, the FPOA expires.
- WI Power of Attorney for Finances and Property
- MN Power of Attorney for Finances and Property
- IA Power of Attorney for Finances and Property
Instructions to assist completing FPOALegal Planning
La Crosse County Bar legal clinic (monthly -free)
Other Resources
Before the After (Causeway Caregivers)
Guardianship Support Center: Information and assistance related to adult guardianship, protective placement, advance directives, etc.
Cost comparisons of nursing homes
- Emergency Responder Tool
For a loved one with dementia:
- Complete this person centered form
- Print on purple paper
- Place on individual's refrigerator (Most first responders are trained to look for this form when responding to individuals with memory loss. This helps them communicate with the individual.)
If you are the caregiver for the person with dementia, please complete this medical information form and place on refrigerator.
- Wisconsin Medicaid Long-Term Care Programs in La Crosse