The Importance of Advanced Directives
End of life planning: Advanced Directives
What is an advanced directive? An advanced directive, also referred to as a health care directive, is a document that makes your wishes known about what kind of health care treatment you want to receive if you are unable to speak for yourself. You put your wishes in writing and name a health care agent, someone who will make decisions for you if you are unable.
Why is an advanced directive important? If you are suddenly unable to speak for yourself, this health care directive guides your doctors and those caring for you to carry out your wishes for health care treatment.
Where do I start? There are many resources available to help you with this process. First, you should obtain a health care directive form -- you can download free copies at the links below. The form will guide you through the kind of decisions you will need to make. This includes naming a health care agent, someone you appoint to make the decisions for you if you're unable. You should talk with the person you want to name as health care agent and make sure he or she agrees to assume this responsibility.
What are the requirements? According to the State of Minnesota Department of Health, a health care directive must meet the following requirements to be legal:
- Be in writing and dated
- State your name.
- Be signed by you or someone you authorize to sign for you, when you can understand and communicate your health care wishes.
- Have your signature verified by a notary public or two witnesses. Include the appointment of an agent to make health care decisions for you and/or instructions about the health care choices you wish to make.
What do I do with the directive? Once you have made your decisions and completed the document, we encourage you to share with your family. Let them know your wishes so that there will be no debate about what type of treatment should be administered in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. It is also important to give a copy of the directive to your assigned health care agent and to your primary care physician. Keep an extra copy in your home, and show other family members where it is located, in case something happens and your health care agent is not immediately available.
RESOURCES
Honoring Choices Minnesota has a free health care directive developed collaboratively with the Twin Cities Medical Society. http://metrodoctors.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181:health-care-directive-form&catid=48:honoring-choices-mn&Itemid=77
State of Minnesota Department of Health offers information about advanced directives: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/profinfo/advdir.htm
The senior care managers of Keystone Care Consultants are available to assist families in the advanced directive process. To learn more, call Kathy at 651-797-7712 or email kalbrecht@keystoneservices.org. To receive more tips and advice on caring for seniors, sign up for our free e-update. Go to www.keystonecareconsultants.org/SignUp.
End of life planning
The Importance of an Advanced Directive
What is an advanced directive? An advanced directive, also referred to as a health care directive, is a document that makes your wishes known about what kind of health care treatment you want to receive if you are unable to speak for yourself. You put your wishes in writing and name a health care agent, someone who will make decisions for you if you are unable.
Why is an advanced directive important? If you are suddenly unable to speak for yourself, this health care directive guides your doctors and those caring for you to carry out your wishes for health care treatment.
Where do I start? There are many resources available to help you with this process. First, you should obtain a health care directive form -- you can download free copies at the links below. The form will guide you through the kind of decisions you will need to make. This includes naming a health care agent, someone you appoint to make the decisions for you if you're unable. You should talk with the person you want to name as health care agent and make sure he or she agrees to assume this responsibility.
What are the requirements? According to the State of Minnesota Department of Health, a health care directive must meet the following requirements to be legal:
- Be in writing and dated
- State your name.
- Be signed by you or someone you authorize to sign for you, when you can understand and communicate your health care wishes.
- Have your signature verified by a notary public or two witnesses. Include the appointment of an agent to make health care decisions for you and/or instructions about the health care choices you wish to make.
What do I do with the directive? Once you have made your decisions and completed the document, we encourage you to share with your family. Let them know your wishes so that there will be no debate about what type of treatment should be administered in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. It is also important to give a copy of the directive to your assigned health care agent and to your primary care physician. Keep an extra copy in your home, and show other family members where it is located, in case something happens and your health care agent is not immediately available.
RESOURCES
Honoring Choices Minnesota has a free health care directive developed collaboratively with the Twin Cities Medical Society. http://metrodoctors.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181:health-care-directive-form&catid=48:honoring-choices-mn&Itemid=77
State of Minnesota Department of Health offers information about advanced directives: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/profinfo/advdir.htm
The senior care managers of Keystone Care Consultants are available to assist families in the advanced directive process. To learn more, call Kathy at 651-797-7712 or email kalbrecht@keystoneservices.org. To receive more tips and advice on caring for seniors, sign up for our free e-update. Go to www.keystonecareconsultants.org/SignUp.
