April is National Healthcare Decisions Month

Submitted by Hospice of Marion County

Making your healthcare wishes known is a win for everyone involved in your care. That is why during National Healthcare Decisions Month, healthcare organizations across the country highlight the importance of having advance directives. April 16 is celebrated as National Healthcare Decisions Day. This is a national program designed to inspire, educate, and empower the public to plan for the unexpected medical crisis.

What better time than during National Healthcare Decisions Month to make your healthcare decisions known by completing an advance directive. It is better to have the discussion sooner than later when it may be too late. Talking with your loved ones about what you want to happen should you not be able to speak for yourself and identifying who you want to speak for you is a gift that only you can provide. Having advance directives in place provide peace of mind and avoids burdening families with wondering what loved ones would have wanted.

Just as preparing a will is optimal when we are of sound mind and body, so is preparing for future healthcare needs. Having to make decisions for others is complicated, especially when that person can no longer speak for themselves. However, many seem to procrastinate, especially when it comes to talking about end of life matters as only about one third of Americans have completed one. It is one of those topics most people would rather not discuss but should, ensuring that their medical wishes will be carried out.

What are advance directives? These are legal documents that include a living will or a durable power of attorney for healthcare, also known as a healthcare proxy. Either document allows you to give directions about your future medical care; think of it as a road map for your family and doctors. It is your right to accept or refuse prolonged medical care if you have a serious, sometimes terminal illness. Advance directives can protect this right if you ever become mentally or physically unable to choose or communicate your wishes due to an injury or illness. By law, the decision belongs to the patient – make your wishes known to your family, healthcare providers and caregivers; you can change or update it any time.

An advance directive can be as simple as a two-page Living Will or as lengthy as the Five Wishes, a detailed user-friendly booklet. In Florida, an advance directive requires neither an attorney nor a notary, just the writer’s signature and that of two witnesses.

In summary, advance directives can:
• protect your rights to make your own medical choices, especially if you are unable to communicate.
• help families avoid the stress of making tough decisions.
• assist physicians and caregivers by providing guidelines for your care, and
• limit life-prolonging measures when there is little or no chance of recovery if that is your choice.

Hospice of Marion

Visit www.HospiceofMarion.org to download an advance directive at no charge.