As the holiday season nears and families begin to spend extended periods of time together, MRHC encourages that, amidst the joyous celebrations, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of discussing a topic often overlooked: advance care directives. While these conversations might seem difficult or uncomfortable, addressing them during the holidays can bring families closer and ensure everyone’s well-being.
What are Advance Care Directives?
Advance care directives are legal documents that allow individuals to outline their healthcare preferences. They serve as guiding principles for medical decisions when a person is unable to express their desires due to illness or incapacity. An advance directive can help you think ahead about what kind of care you want to receive as well as guide your loved ones and healthcare team in making clear decisions about your health care when you can’t do it yourself.
All patients have rights that include privacy, informed consent, information about your condition, and information about advance directives. Advance directives can protect these rights if you ever become mentally or physically unable to choose or communicate your wishes due to an injury or illness. Advance directives can also limit life-prolonging measures when there is little or no chance of recovery.
“Advance directives help you protect your right to make medical choices that can affect your life,” said Julie Hodne, R.N., Education Coordinator at MRHC. “They help your family avoid the responsibility and stress of making difficult decisions on your behalf. Advance directives also help your physician by providing guidelines for your care.”
Having these in place empowers individuals to maintain control over their healthcare choices, ensuring that their preferences are honored even when they can’t voice them. Advance care directives also facilitate discussions among family members, fostering a deeper understanding of each other’s values, beliefs, and healthcare preferences. These directives come in various forms, including living wills, healthcare powers of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders.
Discussing Advance Care Directives During the Holidays
The holiday season presents a unique opportunity for families to gather and connect on a deeper level. While conversations about end-of-life care may initially appear daunting, the holidays can provide a supportive environment for these discussions. Here are a few ways to initiate conversations about advance care directives during the holidays:
- Create a Safe Space: Choose a comfortable and quiet setting where family members can openly express their thoughts and concerns without judgment. Emphasize the importance of respecting each other’s perspectives.
- Share Personal Stories: Encourage family members to share personal experiences or stories related to healthcare decisions. This can help normalize the conversation and demonstrate the significance of having a plan in place.
- Use Resources: Utilize educational materials or seek guidance from healthcare professionals to facilitate discussions and clarify any uncertainties regarding advance care directives.To get a durable power of attorney for health care or a living will, you will need to complete a form available from the Iowa State Bar Association website. Keep a copy in a safe and secure place and provide a copy to your physician to be kept as part of your medical records. Your Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare will also need a copy. Give copies to a relative or friend who is likely to be notified in an emergency. Review your advance directives regularly and make changes when necessary. Inform you physician, family, and POA of any changes.
Another document to be considered for any individual who is frail and elderly or who has a chronic critical medical condition, or a terminal illness is the IPOST form (IOWA PHYSICIAN ORDERS for SCOPE OF TREATMENT). The original form is strongly encouraged to be accompanied by the person it is written for. You can discuss this with your medical provider and find more information about here.
- Focus on the Positive: Highlight the benefits of having these directives in place, such as reducing stress for loved ones and ensuring that individual preferences are respected.
Hodne suggests that “if you need help preparing your advance directives or if you would like more information, contact your legal counsel, healthcare provider, or any hospital, hospice, home health agency, or long-term care facility.” Hodne reminds everyone that “planning is the key to protecting your rights!”
As you gather with loved ones this holiday season, take the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about advance care directives. These conversations, though challenging, can strengthen family bonds and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
