For a lot of us, we don’t want to talk about it. We don’t want to deal with it. However, everyone will reach a point in their life where they will have to come to terms with making a healthcare decision for a loved one or themselves when it comes to end-of-life issues.
The term “advance directive” describes two types of legal documents that enable you to plan for and communicate your end-of-life wishes in the event that you are unable to do so. These are a living will and medical power of attorney.
CTMC Hospice Care, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16, 2009 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, CTMC Hospice Care is providing information and tools to enable the public to execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Texas state laws and to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers. For more information, you can reach the office at 512-754-6159.
“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, we believe more people in our community will have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Linda Lopez, Director for CTMC Hospice Care. “Advance directives are a gift to family members because they take away the difficult end-of-life healthcare decisions affecting their loved one. With advance directives, physicians and healthcare organizations are equipped to honor patient wishes and address end-of-life healthcare planning issues before a medical crisis occurs”.
For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day, visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.