Spring is here and many Americans are taking advantage of this time to clean and organize. Making sure your house is in good order is important, but now is a great time to make sure important health care documents are in place as well.
As part of April’s National Healthcare Decisions Day, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) encourages Americans to explore health care decisions they can make now to avoid ambiguity in the future.
Research shows that you are more likely to get the type of care you want if you discuss future medical treatment with loved ones and put a plan in place to ensure your choices are carried out.Without written instructions, medical personnel and your loved ones may make decisions that override your true wishes. Advance care planning also helps alleviate any guilt, anxiety or worry your loved ones may face.
Advance Planning Improves Quality of Care
Imagine an older adult who arrives unresponsive at an emergency room after falling at home. Her two daughters arrive and explain that they have no medical records or written instructions on what to do. One daughter favors a ‘do not resuscitate order,’ while the other opposes it. The doctor treating her must make critical decisions quickly, and it’s not clear what the patient would want.
Physicians say these scenarios are happening frequently as more older adults require acute care. These situations could be avoided by creating two simple legal documents that spell out healthcare decisions ahead of time. An advance directive document, sometimes called a living will, is used if you are unable to clearly communicate. This directive describes the kind of care you want, as well as treatments you don’t want. For instance, you may want to receive palliative pain relief medications, but not elect to extend life with tube-fed nutrition. A second document, known as a healthcare power of attorney, designates someone to make decisions on your behalf, using your advance directive as a guideline.
Getting Started with Advance Care Planning
If you don’t already have advance care planning in place, here are some steps to take.
Health care decisions are an ongoing process. As your health changes, it’s a good idea to keep your advance planning documents updated and make sure your loved ones are aware of your wishes.
As you think about future health care decisions, Kadan Homecare would be honored to discuss how we can support your care plan. We will provide a complimentary in-home consultation on your options for homecare in Atlanta. Please call 770-396-8997 or email info@kadan.org.