National Healthcare Decisions Day!!
April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). Each year St. Andrew's Senior Solutions and the Caring Workplace like to take this opportunity to remind our clients and families of this nationwide initiative. The goal is to help raise awareness about the need to make proactive plans for health care treatment in the event that a person becomes incapacitated and unable to state their wishes when facing a health crisis.
Creating Advance Directives and Durable Power of Attorney forms to communicate health care decisions is an important step. This process ensures that family members are able to act in the best interest of their loved one if that individual is in need of treatment and unable to make informed decisions themselves.
Making good health care decisions can be an extremely difficult challenge under the best of circumstances, but that challenge becomes emotional and overwhelming in the midst of a true crisis or trauma. It is important that each of us be willing to assume this responsibility and take a proactive approach, not only for ourselves but also for the sake of our loved ones who would be put in the position of having to make those decisions on our behalf.
The Administration on Aging is making this effort to raise public awareness about the need for advanced planning. Their goal is to make sure that people have the information they need to make health care choices that will ensure their dignity and care. They have designed a website at theconversationproject.org/nhdd/ which includes a resource library, fact sheets, and sample forms for advance directives. This can be a valuable tool for caregivers and may help facilitate difficult conversations with their loved ones.
The Caring Workplace can also assist you with this process, providing guidance, resources, and support. Please contact us at any time to receive information and forms for Illinois or for a copy of Missouri's Life Choices booklet which includes both Advance Directive and Durable Power of Attorney forms. We can also help obtain forms if you or your loved one is out of state, as different regulations may apply.
This information was obtained from the Administration for Community Living at www.acl.gov.