ORLANDO, Fla. – You plan for big milestones like birthdays, graduations, weddings, but what about for death?
If you experience a catastrophic accident or illness that leaves you unconscious or unable to communicate, do your loved ones know what your wishes are? Ivanhoe has details on how you can make sure they do.
In the U.S., it’s a taboo topic to talk about.
“Other cultures talk about dying. It’s a normal thing of life,” explained Pam Wald, a Compassion & Choices supporter.
But not talking about wants and wishes for end-of-life care now, can lead to big problems later. An advance directive is a series of documents that allows a person to express their care wishes and appoint a healthcare proxy to make decisions on their behalf if they’re unable to. But among terminally ill patients, fewer than 50% had advance directives.
What should you know about advance directives? First, include a living will to decide what medical interventions, such as resuscitation, a feeding tube or dialysis are acceptable. Also, states handle advance directives differently, so you may want to consult a lawyer.
Then...
“It’s good to review it every year,” Pam said.
Since advance directives can be updated or even canceled. This could all help you get the care you deserve.
If you have an advance directive, make sure to give a copy to your doctor and other relevant medical healthcare providers. Between 65% and 76% of doctors were not aware some of their patients had an advance directive.