Certified Senior Advisor End-of-Life Planning Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client is preparing her advance directives and wants to appoint her son to make medical decisions on her behalf only if she becomes incapacitated and unable to communicate her own wishes.
Which of the following documents specifically achieves this goal?

Accepted Answer

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Answer

Last Will and Testament

Answer

Living Will

Answer

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Question 2

Which of the following best describes a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form?

Accepted Answer

A set of actionable medical orders for current treatment preferences for individuals with a serious illness or advanced frailty.

Answer

A legal document required for all adults that appoints a financial decision-maker in case of future incapacity.

Answer

A statement of general wishes for future, hypothetical medical situations, typically completed by healthy adults.

Answer

A document that directs the distribution of personal property after an individual has passed away.

Question 3

A 78-year-old client with a serious chronic illness is exploring comfort-focused care options. What is the primary distinction between palliative care and hospice care that the Certified Senior Advisor should explain?

Accepted Answer

Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness alongside curative treatments, whereas hospice care is for terminal patients who have forgone curative treatments.

Answer

Palliative care is only provided in a hospital, while hospice care is only provided at home.

Answer

Only hospice care utilizes a team-based approach that includes spiritual and emotional support.

Answer

Hospice care is fully covered by Medicare, while palliative care is never covered by any insurance.

Question 4

Mr. Garcia wants to ensure his classic car is given to his grandson and his home is given to his daughter upon his death. He also needs to name an executor to manage the distribution of his assets. Which legal document is essential for Mr. Garcia to formally state these specific wishes and appoint an executor?

Accepted Answer

Last Will and Testament

Answer

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances

Answer

Advance Directive

Answer

Living Trust

Question 5

What is the most likely legal consequence if an individual dies 'intestate'?

Accepted Answer

The state's succession laws will determine how the deceased's property is distributed among heirs.

Answer

All of the deceased's assets are automatically forfeited to the state government.

Answer

A court-appointed attorney is granted full discretion to decide who the beneficiaries will be.

Answer

The deceased's assets are placed in a trust managed by the federal government for 10 years.

Question 6

A client has a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances, effective immediately, naming her son as her agent. Which of the following actions is the son legally permitted to perform on her behalf?

Accepted Answer

Pay her monthly utility bills and file her income tax return.

Answer

Consent to a surgical procedure on her behalf.

Answer

Amend the terms of her Last Will and Testament.

Answer

Change the beneficiary on her life insurance policy to himself without her consent.