Bucket List Essential - Do You Have an Advance Directive?

Bucket List Essential - Do You Have an Advance Directive?

Consider this: national studies conducted in 2004 and again in 2014 indicate 9 out of 10 people believe it is important that their wishes as to medical treatment be followed should a serious illness or injury leave them unable to speak or communicate. At the same time, surveys indicate that only 3 out of 10 adults actually have their wishes known - and in writing.The nation has a clear challenge between the recognized value of having one’s healthcare wishes followed and the action to make those wishes known.Every adult, age 18 and over, should complete an Advance Directive for Health Care. While this is a 24/7/365 opportunity, April 16 of each year is National Health Care Decisions Day (NHDD). NHDD represents a movement to inspire and educate the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. Advance care planning involves individual understanding of the treatment options at end-of-life and the importance of an Advance Directive in communicating one’s wishes should a serious injury or illness leave them unable to communicate.A day of recognition is important but advance care planning is a process. So, what is an Advance Directive for Health Care and why is it important to have one? An Advance Directive documents an individual’s personal wishes and preferences for medical care in situations when they are temporarily or permanently unable to make or communicate their decisions. It’s a “what if” planning document. These documented preferences maintain the individual’s independence and dignity by guiding medical care based on one’s personal choices, regardless of mental or physical capacity. With that dignity also comes the relief from burdening the family’s and physicians’ difficult decision-making in the absence of knowing, with confidence, what the individual wants or does not want.The Advance Directive is can be updated at any time as situations and preferences change. It is best to complete the document when the few but important components of the Directive can be given time for the thoughtful, personal, consideration that honestly represent one’s wishes. Creating a directive during a health crisis, if that option exists, can cause additional anxiety with decisions made under time-sensitive pressure.Where can you get an advance directive? You have three basic options: an attorney, the hospital or on-line. An attorney will address your Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney documents. These are components also found in the Virginia Advance Directive for Health Care available at local hospitals. The Virginia Advance Directive for Health Care is a legal document, does not require the assistance of an attorney and costs nothing to complete.For the on-line option, you will find many sites from which to choose.  Be sure to find a site that includes the Virginia Advance Directive for Health Care form. As legal forms, Advance Directives have been created by individual states and differ in their requirements.Why not take action this year?  If you are unsure where to begin, consider contacting the As You Wish Advance Care Planning Program at www.AsYouWishVirginia.org.Written by, David MurrayImage courtesy of pakorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net