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.

• Think about your personal values and beliefs about medical treatment and end-of-life care. It’s helpful to talk to your doctor about your unique health challenges and any future decisions you may face related to your health conditions. Options for home health care, palliative care and hospice care may be part of that conversation.
• Choose someone you trust to make medical decisions for you. This person can be a family member, loved one or even an attorney. They will make decisions during situations in which you cannot speak for yourself or there is ambiguity about how to proceed.
• Complete advance directive forms, including a durable power of attorney for the person who will make medical decisions for you. Many states have their own forms that you can access and complete for free. The NHPCO search tool is one resource for finding your state’s form. It’s also a good idea to ask your estate planning attorney to help you prepare these documents as you’re creating a will.
• Make copies of your completed forms; share copies with those who will be involved in your care and store some copies in a safe place.

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.