Advance Directive
A serious illness or accident can happen at any time and at any age. Therefore, it is important for every adult over the age of 18 to have an Advance Directive. Complex choices about end-of-life care are difficult to discuss even when people are well. If a loved one is seriously ill, these decisions can seem overwhelming.
“Advance Directive” is a general term which refers to a person’s written directions regarding medical care, which can be used in the event that the person is unable to participate in making health care decisions.
The preferred form of an Advance Directive is the Power of Attorney for Health Care (POA-HC). The POA-HC is a document expressing your wishes regarding medical care in any situation in which you are incapacitated.
With this document, you appoint a health care agent with legal standing to make health care decisions which are in accord with your stated wishes.
Before you begin to fill out a POA-HC, you should first reflect on questions related to end-of-life issues in light of your beliefs and values, and discuss them with your family, loved ones, clergy, and your physician. This can include issues such as:
- Life sustaining measures such as ventilators and feeding tubes
- Where you desire to spend your final days and hours
(i.e., home, hospice, hospital, nursing home)
- CPR
- Organ and tissue donation
When selecting someone to serve as your agent (and alternate agent) you should keep the following in mind. The agent should be:
- Someone who is familiar with your wishes.
- Someone who is willing to serve as your advocate to ensure that those wishes are carried out, even in conflict situations.
- Someone who has the emotional strength to make difficult decisions in very stressful situations.
If you have any questions, would like to have a POA-HC form mailed to you, need assistance in completing the form, or would like to schedule a presentation on Advance Directives for your church or community group, please contact the Center at (715) 833-6594, or e-mail us.