April 16 was National Health Care Decisions Day. I know from experience that having written directives about what kinds of treatments and health care interventions my parents and my husband wanted — or did not want — made all the difference during the stress of their illnesses and eventual deaths. Those experiences convinced me to create my own plan, and to appoint people I know will speak up for me to make sure my wishes are followed. It is a gift to myself and to my family.
Here are some things you might want to know:
1. Your plan can be verbal or in writing — a written plan means that your wishes are more likely to be heard and followed.
2. Think through what quality of life means to you and what sort of medical treatments you might want — or not want.
3. Consider who you will trust to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Pick an alternate person as well, in case your primary person cannot do it for any reason. Ask them if they would be willing to speak for you and make sure your wishes are respected.
4. Create a document.
5. Share your document with the person(s) you chose to speak for you and with your health care provider.
6. Store the document safely, in an easily accessible place — let someone know where!
7. Review your plan periodically, maybe every year on your birthday — it is a gift, after all.
Another time to review might be whenever there is a life-changing event.
If you plan now, you are giving your health care team and the people who care about you a real gift. It means that these serious and difficult decisions will not need to be made in a crisis; this can be very comforting to the people who love you. And, while you are making your own Advance Care Plan, why not reach out to other family members and close friends to encourage them to do the same?
— Pat Dooley
Anchorage
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