The weeks ahead: what to settle in hospice

Where it is. The last chapter has its own pages, each with a small menu at the top: The chapter (the patient's care chapter, the page that says whether the patient is in care, in hospice care, or has passed), The weeks ahead, The first days, The weeks after, and The service. The patient's own sign-in does not see these pages; they say the page is for the family.

What is on it. Who holds the health care power of attorney and where the paper is; the DNR, or the MOST / POLST form, on the fridge and in Important Papers; what the hospice provides and the number to call at any hour; who should be told now, and who wants a call when it is close; what the patient would want in the room (music, a faith leader or chaplain, who is there); the funeral home chosen and told in advance; comfort medications on hand and who gives them; and a plan for the pets and the home.

When it is for. While the patient is in hospice care, this is the list for now. Before that, the page says it waits until the family needs it and nothing on it is for today.

Ticking a line. Each line is a checkbox with one plain line on why it matters. Under a ticked line the page says who ticked it and the day; untick it to clear the name and the day. Add a note keeps a few words with the line: who is doing it, a number, where something is kept. The family's own sign-in and the caregiver role tick lines and write notes; everyone else in the circle reads them.

Links into the app. The power of attorney and the DNR lines open Important Papers, where the papers, their status and the signed copies already live. The hospice lines show the hospice's any-hour number as a tap-to-call link once it is written down on the care chapter page. The funeral home line opens The service.

Plain words only. The lists are a way to keep track, not legal or medical advice. For what applies where the patient lives, the page points to the hospice team, the funeral home and Important Papers.