Posts Tagged ‘mediacal power of attorney

Conversations Before The Crisis

Conversations Before The Crisis: National Healthcare Decisions Day April 16, 2016

The Most Important Conversation We’re Not Having

How we want to receive care in the event of a medical crisis represents the most important and costly conversation that we are not having. Some families are so reluctant to discuss medical and end-of-life issues that loved ones die without having the opportunity to express their last wishes. And, physicians often are equally hesitant to discuss these issues. Houston Hospice is promoting National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16, 2016) to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning

Advance care planning involves making future healthcare decisions that include much more than deciding what care you would or would not want; it starts with expressing preferences, clarifying values, identifying health care preferences and selecting an agent to express healthcare decisions if you are unable to speak for yourself.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and resources to communicate and document their future healthcare decisions.

Houston Hospice is offering free resources and consultations to help transform this seemingly difficult conversation into one of deep engagement, insight and empowerment.

Points To Consider:

Patients have the right — and deserve plenty of time — to discuss their care preferences. It’s best to start those conversations early, long before the threat of serious illness.
You’re not too young to appoint a loved one to make your healthcare decisions when and if you are unable to make them yourself. That loved one has “medical power of attorney” and should follow your written directions.
How does the person who has “medical power of attorney” know what type of care you want or don’t want at the end of your life? Do you want heroic measures to save your life? In the case of terminal illness, do you want to receive care at home, surrounded by family and friends? Write it down.
The focus of hospice care is pain and symptom management rather than aggressive curative measures. Nevertheless, hospice provides more medical care not less to insure patients are comfortable and able to enjoy their lives as long as possible.
One reason it is so difficult to talk about serious illness and hospice, is that families think it will destroy the patient’s hopes of surviving. Healthcare planning empowers the patient.

Conversations Before the Crisis Dinner

Sharing your wishes can bring you closer to the people you love. Participate in National Healthcare Decision Day by filling your table with comfort food, family and friends and talking about your treatment preferences. Houston Hospice will give you the tools to host your “Conversations Before The Crisis Dinner”. Pick up your Healthcare Conversation Kit with resources such as Advance Medical Directives and Medical Power of Attorney documents and speak to one of our experts at Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas. Or download resources from www.houstonhospice.org.