Advance Care Planning is making decisions about the care you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself. These are your decisions to make, regardless of what you choose for your care, and the decisions are based on your personal values, preferences, and discussions with your loved ones. If you are in an accident or have an illness that leaves you unable to talk about your wishes, who will speak for you? You can tell your family, friends and healthcare providers what your wishes and personal beliefs are about continuing or withdrawing medical treatments at the end of life.
Communicate Your End-of-Life Wishes
While it can be difficult to initiate these conversations, ultimately, they can be an invaluable gift to those you love and NYGoodHealth those providing medical care. Therefore, it is necessary that your wishes are documented and signed by you. It is essential to think in general about what is important to you and to make sure your loved ones and care providers are aware of your priorities.
Advance Directive describes two types of legal documents that enable you to plan for and communicate your end-of-life wishes in the event that you are unable to communicate: a Medical Power of Attorney and a Living Will.
Medical Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a person you trust as your healthcare agent (or surrogate decision maker), who is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Living Will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments that you would or would not want if facing a serious or life-limiting illness.
Find out more about Advance Care Planning by contacting Alternative Hospice. The care team can provide you with the tools and resources needed to complete a living will, appoint a health care power of attorney, as well as a DNR (Do-Dot-Resuscitate).