Make Your Advance Care Plans on National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) serves as a reminder that everyone, regardless of age or health status, should have a plan in place for medical decisions. If you become unable to communicate due to illness or injury, your family may struggle to make choices about your care. Without clear legal documents, decisions about treatments, life support and end-of-life care may be left to doctors or state laws rather than your loved ones.

Creating an advance care plan ensures that your medical preferences are honored, while guiding those who will make decisions on your behalf.

What Is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning involves preparing for the possibility that you may one day lose the ability to make medical decisions. This process includes:

• Documenting healthcare preferences for situations such as terminal illness, life support, or pain management
• Naming a healthcare agent for positive care/positive treatment (someone you trust to make medical decisions if you cannot)
• Ensuring that loved ones understand your wishes to prevent confusion or disagreements

An effective plan eliminates uncertainty, allowing family members to focus on providing support rather than making emotionally difficult decisions.

Essential Documents for Advance Care Planning

1.  Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will

• Healthcare Power of Attorney – Appoints a trusted individual to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so for yourself.  For example, you are under anesthesia in surgery -- someone needs to be appointed to make treatment decisions on your behalf.
• Living Will – Details the treatments you do or do not want when you are permanently unconscious or in an end-stage medical condition.

These documents ensure that your wishes are followed, even if you are unable to express them yourself. Without them, hospitals and doctors may be forced to follow standard medical procedures that may not align with your values.

2. POLST (Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)

A POLST form is designed for individuals with serious health conditions and provides specific medical instructions for emergency responders and healthcare providers. Unlike a living will, which serves as general guidance, a POLST form is a medical order that must be followed.

Discussing Your Healthcare Wishes with Loved Ones

Even with the right documents in place, conversations about medical care are crucial. Family members may not always agree on what is best, and without guidance, they could struggle with difficult decisions.

Discussing preferences in advance allows:

• Your loved ones to understand what matters most to you
• Your chosen healthcare agent to feel confident in decision-making
• Fewer chances for disagreements among family members

It may be uncomfortable to discuss these topics. However, taking the time to express your values and preferences now can prevent stress and uncertainty later.

Acting on National Healthcare Decisions Day

Many people avoid advance care planning because they feel they are too young or healthy. However, medical emergencies can occur at any age, and having a plan in place helps eliminate unnecessary confusion during critical moments.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is an opportunity to:

1. Review existing medical directives – Ensure that they reflect your current preferences and update them if needed.
2. Talk with family and healthcare providers – Make sure your loved ones and doctors are aware of your choices.
3. Meet with an estate planning attorney – Create or revise health care documents to ensure that they are legally valid and effective.

Making these decisions now gives you control over future medical care, while protecting your loved ones from unnecessary stress.

Key Takeaways

• Advance care planning ensures that medical wishes are honored: A living will and healthcare power of attorney allow you to dictate your treatment preferences.
• Choosing a healthcare agent prevents uncertainty: Designating a trusted person to make medical decisions ensures that your values are respected.
• Conversations about end-of-life care provide clarity: Discussing your wishes with family members can reduce stress and avoid conflicts during medical crises.
• A POLST form is crucial for individuals with serious illnesses: Unlike a living will, a POLST provides specific medical instructions that healthcare providers must follow.
• National Healthcare Decisions Day is the perfect time to act: Reviewing and updating your medical directives ensures that your plan remains current and legally valid.

Reference: The Conversation Project "National Healthcare Decisions Day"