How Can Advance Care Planning Help Me?

What kind of care would you want in a medical emergency? What if you were disabled and could not make those decisions? Advance care planning provides your family and doctors clear directions on the type of medical care you would like to receive if you were unable to speak for yourself.

These preferences can be communicated through a legal document called an Advance Directive that only goes into effect if you are incapacitated. This living document can be adjusted or changed by you at any time to reflect altered circumstances or health. The bottom line is that those who communicate their healthcare preferences are far more likely to receive the care they would like to receive than those who do not!

You may not have considered the range of medical scenarios that require significant decision making. Some of these might include:

• Use of CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the advent of heart stoppage

• Use of Ventilator - assistance in breathing through a tracheal tube to the lungs

• Artificial Nutrition - feeding through a nose tube to the stomach

• Artificial Hydration - keeping fluids through IV (intravenous) tube

• Comfort Care - how to manage pain and discomfort through palliative and social support

How you feel about these different treatments will vary widely depending on your personal values and experiences. Your wishes may also reflect the needs and desires of those closest to you.

Getting started on the path to Advance Care Planning begins with a little bit of homework. The two websites below offer ample resources to get you thinking. Spending some time reviewing family health history and talking with your doctor can also be revealing. Once you’ve formulated some self-understanding on these issues, you can benefit from meeting with an attorney who can help you draft a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare alongside any other Advanced Care Planning Documents you would like to put legally in place.

Remember that the team at Hillsborough Wills & Trusts has the expertise to help you Build Your Circle of Security through strong legal documents and good counsel. We are here to help you succeed! Contact us at: https://hillsboroughwills.com/contact

Additional Sources:

http://thegenerationaboveme.blogspot.com/2019/11/prepare-for-your-care-free-resource-for.html#more

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives