Having your wishes heard and honored is always important, especially during a pandemic. Advance care planning is making decisions about the care you wish to receive, if you become unable to speak for yourself. These decisions are usually in writing and provided to family and your healthcare provider. The decisions you make about your care are put in an “Advanced Directive” which is a legal document that takes effect only if you become unable to communicate your wishes or speak for yourself. One could become unable to communicate healthcare wished due to serious injury or disease, regardless of one’s age. The legal documents help loved ones make decisions for you and help your healthcare provider know what type of medical care you wish to receive.
There are a few types of Advanced Directives one should have in place while healthy and of sound mind to make such important decisions. These documents include a Living Will and Healthcare (or Medical) Power of Attorney. A Living Will allows a person document his/her wishes regarding medical treatments at the end of life. A Healthcare (or Medical) Power of Attorney allows a person to appoint a surrogate or person he/she trusts to be the healthcare agent, who is authorized to make medical decisions on the person’s behalf.
Prior to your Living Will guiding your medical care, two physicians must certify that you are unable to make medical decisions, you are in the medical condition stated in the document (i.e.- terminal illness or incapacitated), or the state the document was prepared in/person’s residence could have other requirements.
Prior to your Healthcare (or Medical) Power of Attorney going into effect, your physician must certify you are unable to make decisions and if you regain the ability to make decisions, the surrogate cannot continue to make decisions and other requirements required by the state the document was prepared in/person’s residence.
St. Anthony’s Hospice has social workers who can assist patients and family with these documents. While our social workers are not attorneys, they do have the knowledge to make the legal documents easier for the average person to understand. They can also assist the family and patients with funeral arrangements, if they need help with that.
If we can help you or a loved one feel more comfortable or getting advanced directives in place, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or visit our website at https://stanthonyshospice.org/referral/.
