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.
According to Beck, Lenox & Stolzer Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC, it is essential that you create your advance care plans to ensure 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 proxy (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. Advance Directives
An advance directive is a legal document that outlines your medical preferences. It includes:
- Living Will – Details the treatments you do or do not want in situations such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness.
- Healthcare Power of Attorney – Appoints a trusted individual to make medical decisions on your behalf.
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 proxy 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:
- Review existing medical directives – Ensure that they reflect your current preferences and update them if needed.
- Talk with family and healthcare providers – Make sure your loved ones and doctors are aware of your choices.
- Meet with an estate planning attorney – Create or revise advance directives 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 proxy 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.
If you need to create your advance care plans, or you need a complete estate plan, contact us @ Beck, Lenox & Stolzer to schedule a free initial consultation.
Reference: The Conversation Project “National Healthcare Decisions Day”
