Only Half Of St. Louis Nursing Home Residents Have An End-Of-Life Advance Directive

Only 50% of nursing home residents in the St. Louis, Missouri area have advance directives to specify their treatment preferences in a medical emergency. This is in sharp contrast to national estimates that 65% to 70% of nursing home residents have advance directives. Advance directives, or living wills, are legal documents in which a person specifies treatment preferences if faced with a serious injury or illness that renders them unable to make decisions for themselves. These directives can include do not resuscitate (DNR) orders in cases where a person chooses to not have medical interventions in a medical emergency.

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