When you’re going about your daily life, you have the awareness and ability to make decisions for yourself. This includes choosing whether or not to receive medical treatment. Realistically, that might not always be the case.
Whether you are injured, sick or unable to function in some way, you may not be able to make choices or express your desires effectively. That’s why it is important to create an advance care plan. An advance care plan is more than having a do not resuscitate (DNR) order, it includes:
- Discussing with your loved ones your medical wishes
- Writing and signing your advance directives
- Identifying your medical power of attorney
If you are enrolled in Medicare, advance care planning is covered as part of your annual wellness visit. You can often obtain the necessary documents from your medical provider or a hospital, and Texas Health and Human Services also offers them online.
What are Advanced Directives?
An advanced directive is a legal document outlining your wishes related to your medical care. This includes whether or not you want the use of CPR, ventilators, dialysis and even artificial nutrition or hydration.
One form of an advance directive includes the Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates, sometimes referred to as a living will in some states. This legal document typically identifies which common medical treatments you would want to receive and which you do not want to receive.
Advance directives can remove the sense of stress and responsibility from loved ones if they are left to make tough decisions about your medical care.
What is a Medical Power of Attorney?
A medical power of attorney is someone you legally designate to make decisions regarding your health care in case you are unable to.
Identifying this designated person helps ensure that your medical wishes and religious beliefs are respected. Delaying this process can leave your care plan in the hands of persons designated by state guidelines, potentially leading to decisions that may not reflect your wishes.
If you do have someone designated as a medical power of attorney, bring the legal document with you to the hospital so that your health care providers are aware of your decision.
Now What?
You’ve completed your advance care planning and you’ve filled out the necessary documents. What should you do next?
You will want to have the legal documents validated. In the state of Texas, you can have it certified by a notary public OR two independent, non-interested adult witnesses. The adult witnesses cannot include family members, a person you designate to be your medical power of attorney, your doctor, or an heir to your estate.
Next, share those documents with your loved ones. Keep copies in an easily accessible place for your family members to reference as needed. If you are undergoing surgery or will otherwise be hospitalized, take a copy of your documents with you to share with your health care providers.
Never Too Early
It’s common for people to think that advance care planning and advance directives are only necessary for older adults or those at the end of their life. The truth is that a medical crisis can happen at any time. That is why it is important to start having these conversations with your loved ones now before it’s too late.
