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Advance Care Planning
What are Advanced Directives?
As families, we plan for weddings, the birth of a child, for college and for retirement. Despite the conversations that we have with our family members about these events, rarely do families talk about end of life decisions.
Approximately two and a half million Americans die each year, and less than a tenth do any end of life planning. One source states that we are more likely to talk to our children about safe sex than end of life choices.
The time to discuss end of life choices is before we become too ill to convey our wishes. So, the best time to talk about these issues? Right now. Make a date with your loved ones and Communicate your wishes. A few things to keep in mind:
 Prepare ahead of time - Write down a few notes concerning your end of life desires. Acquire the appropriate forms as necessary.
Select the appropriate setting - Private is best. Don't select a restaurant or a public place. These are private feelings and deserve quiet without interruptions.
Be sensitive - Even our family members may have feelings about death and end of life that you are unaware of or that can just be difficult to talk about openly. Take your time, asking permission to discuss these topics shows your family member that you respect their wishes.
Be a good listener - Difficult issues are softened when we hear what others really say. Letting others finish their thoughts, good eye contact and not interrupting, and acknowledging their ideas and feelings are a few ways of making talking about end of life issues easier.
The common form used for conveying
your wishes is a legal document
called "Advanced Directives". Ramona VNA & Hospice
has these forms available to you
at no cost. Advanced Directives
contain your written desires concerning
such issues as life support, resuscitation
desires, medicine and feeding choices.
Although these witnessed documents
legally convey your end of life
wishes, personal conversations
with your family should be included.
Another recent form introduced,
is the POLST Form. The POLST form
is a document that you and your
doctor complete together. When
he signs it, it becomes "doctor's orders" so
to speak. All professionals that
you encounter afterward, paramedics,
E.R. personell, or anyone in the
medical field, must legally obey
these orders. It's a good opportunity
to set down with your personal
physician and talk about your wishes.
You can find out more about the
POLST form and download copies
of it by clicking HERE.
You will also need to name a decision maker to speak for you, in case you can't speak for yourself. But remember, putting your wishes in writing on an Advanced Directives form will make it much easier for your designee when the time comes.
Regardless of your age, remember, the time to do your Advanced Directives, is now.
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