A 2012 study looking at the use of Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms has found that about 20% of California nursing homes have all of their residents have a POLST form while nearly 40% of nursing homes had at least 90% of their residents have a POLST. The numbers are tremendously high, especially considering that POLST forms are meant for a very small number of people: people who are terminally ill or suffering from a chronic progressive illness likely to end in their death. To read the study, click here.