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Talk About Healthcare Choices Before Facing a Crisis

A family is gathered by the bedside of a loved one who has been seriously ill, and now is likely near the end of life. Each member of the family has a different idea of what should be done and what their loved one would have wanted. That’s when they realize they should have planned ahead and talked about what they each would want in a medical crisis.

Heartbreaking scenes like this happen far too often.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is encouraging families to spend time when they may be gathered for the holidays, to talk about the care they would or would not want. This can be in person or virtually given that many people may not travel this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Having discussions about one’s health care wishes is part of advance care planning,” said NHPCO president and CEO Edo Banach. “While this is particularly important if a family is coping with a serious or life-limiting illness of a loved one, advance care planning is important for everyone to think about.”

Advance care planning involves making decisions about the care you would want to receive in a medical crisis that might be the result of a serious illness or an unexpected accident. Advance care planning also involves deciding who will speak for you if you are not able to speak for yourself.

An essential part of advance care planning involves having these important conversations with your loved ones. Your discussion can include:

The care you want: Deciding what types of treatment you would or would not want should you be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or faced with a serious medical crisis.

What’s important: Sharing your personal values and beliefs with your loved ones.

Advance directives: Completing an advance directive to put into writing what types of treatment you would or would not want. (Check the website of your state government to download a state-specific form.)

Who will speak for you: Designating a person as your healthcare power of attorney (sometimes called a healthcare proxy) to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.

Not only is it important for each of us to clearly make our wishes known, but it is one of the most important gifts we can give to our families and loved ones.

Hospice and palliative care providers see how difficult it can be for families that have never talked about care choices and are in a crisis situation. Similarly, they see how beneficial it can be when the priorities at life’s end have been discussed and are clearly understood.

NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org offers free information to help families talk about the care they would want.

Source: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization