Why an Advance Care Plan Should Be Part of Your New
Year's Resolutions
(ARA) – Does your sister make sure to bake your favorite cake
on your birthday? Or maybe you and your son always watch your
favorite movie on Thanksgiving. Families are close and know lots
of special things about one another. As we grow older, there are
some very important things that every family should know and
discuss, even if they are difficult.
Later in life, we face a variety of health issues and might not
be able to care for ourselves like we used to. Making an advance
care plan can ease worries for you and your family about what
might happen to you if you are unable to make decisions about
your own care or about death and dying.
An advance care plan is a written document that helps you to
ensure that your care is customized to reflect your personal
preferences and health needs, as well as meet your social,
cultural and religious requirements. Getting answers to your
questions and letting people know what you want at the end of
your life can help you feel more in control and give you peace
of mind as you go about living your life.
“An advance care plan is a good idea for all adults, regardless
of their medical history. Discussing these issues can be
difficult, but ultimately the goal is to ease the burden if the
situation does arise,” says Clyde Yancy, M.D., Chair Education
Committee at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), a
nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality and
duration of life for patients with heart failure and preventing
the condition for those at risk.
Many chronic diseases, including but not limited to heart
failure, can eventually exhaust all reasonable medical
approaches. Planning ahead is important. An advance care plan
often includes an advance care directive, a do-not-resuscitate
order, a living will, a health care power of attorney and a
financial plan.
Advance Care Directive
This document will provide clear directions regarding your
medical treatment and can include a living will, a durable
health care power of attorney and a statement about organ
donation.
Do-Not-Resuscitate Order
This part of the plan tells doctors, nurses and other rescue
personnel what they should or should not do when a person stops
breathing or when their heart stops beating or is beating so
irregularly it threatens life. The order can include
instructions on whether to use different types of methods to
revive a person.
Living Will
A living will is usually used during a terminal illness when a
person is unable to communicate. It is a legal document that
lets a person who is unable to participate in decisions about
their medical care express their wishes about life-sustaining
treatment.
Health Care Power of Attorney
This allows you to designate another person to make legally
binding decisions for you. A health care power of attorney lets
someone make all health care decisions for you including the
decision to refuse life-sustaining treatment if you are unable
to make the decision for yourself.
Financial Plan
Health care can be very expensive, especially when treating
chronic illnesses. A financial plan is created to help families
deal with issues such as paying for medicines, doctor visits and
hospital stays.
“Telling people what you want helps them care for you in a way
that best meets your wishes,” says Yancy. “Even if you do not
create a written advance care plan, it is important to let your
health care providers, family and other caretakers know about
your wishes regarding the future.”
To learn more about advance care planning visit the Heart
Failure Society of America at
www.abouthf.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
