Advance Directives typically outlines the type of medical care a family member indicated they want or do not want to receive in the event they are unable to communicate (i.e. to be allowed to pass comfortably without certain life saving measures).

Having a living will before a medical crisis arises is an important document to have prepared. This will provide your family understanding of your wishes and guide medical practitioners. This document can prevent confusion or disagreement at a potentially critical time.

In this blog article we’ll provides you a general guideline to understanding Advance Directives.

What Is an Advance Directive?

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to make decisions now about your healthcare should you otherwise be unable to speak for yourself.  This can include emergencies or end-of-life care. 

These directives are only put into place if you become incapacitated and can't speak for yourself.  They are legal and binding documents and should be discussed with your family and your doctor. The directives can relieve family members from questioning what you would've wanted. 

Types of Advance Directives

There are two primary types of advance directives, a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney.

Living Wills

Living wills are legal documents that states your wishes about the use of certain medical decisions and health treatments at the end of life. Should you become incapacitated due to a serious injury, terminal illness, or at the end stages of life, a living will guarantee your healthcare wishes are carried out. 

Consulting with your healthcare practitioner as you begin preparation will be beneficial.

Durable Power of Attorney

This document names a healthcare proxy. You will name a person who will make health care choices for you if needed. You can also note which treatments you do and do not want.

The proxy you name should be someone that you have discussed your wishes with.  A healthcare proxy can be named in addition to a living will. 

Your representative can be your spouse, friend or adult child.  As long as it's someone you trust to keep true to your wishes and someone that you can openly communicate with about these important decisions.

Other Advance Care Decisions

If you have a living will and healthcare proxy named, there are additional directives to you may want to consider in your living will.  Some of these may include:

• Comfort care:  You can state if you want to be given treatment that would make you more comfortable. Such treatment includes pain medication.
• Life-sustaining treatment: You can state if you want machines or other support to keep you alive when your body is failing. This may include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which restarts your heart with electric shock, chest compressions, or medicine. Other forms of life-sustaining treatment include breathing devices, nutrition and fluids, and machines that perform as your kidneys.
• Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): Generally provided during end-of-life or if critically ill, this directive is a doctor's order that states you are aware of the decisions that may be made on your behalf.
• DNR (Do not resuscitate): You can state if you do not want your heart or lungs to be restarted if they stop working.
• Do not intubate: You can state if you do not want to have devices that help you breathe.
• Do not hospitalize: You can state if you do not want to go to a hospital. You can stay where you are.
• Organ and tissue donation.

How to Get Started

The first step is discussing your wishes and concerns with your doctor.  They can go over any questions you might have and discuss the items in the living will. 

The next step is to discuss your wishes with your family. Consider who to appoint as healthcare proxy.  It's important to be clear and discuss your wishes with them. 

All states accept advance directives, but the rules for advance directives vary between states. Take a moment to understand your state's guidelines here.   

Who should have my advance directive?

Provide a copy to your family, doctors, and anyone else who may decide your health care. Keep the original with your important documents at home. If you make changes, give everyone the updated copy to replace the old one.

In addition to written copies of your advance directives, be sure to speak openly and honestly with your loved ones. Truthfully answer their questions so that they really understand your wishes.

No one wants to think about being critically ill or enduring end-of-life decisions. An advance directive will give you peace of mind and your healthcare wishes will be fulfilled. 

Church Home LifeSpring is a long and short term care facility committed to exceed normal caregiving and rehabilitation services to the Middle Georgia community. We invite you to contact us.