National Healthcare Decisions Day - Community Outreach Presentation
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Do you know what healthcare treatments you would and
would not want if you could not speak for yourself?
Do other people know what your wishes are?
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Today
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1. Discover the value of advance care planning
2. Learn how to talk about your future healthcare decisions
3. Understand how to document your healthcare decisions using advance directives
4. Encourage others to honor National Healthcare Decisions Day
Advance Care Planning
Involves:
Learning about treatment options
Thinking about your values
Talking about your decisions
Documenting your wishes
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Why Plan Ahead?
Unable to speak for yourself
Sudden illness or accidents
Leave a guide for others
Peace of mind for loved ones
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Getting Started
Learn about life-sustaining treatments
Reflect upon your values
Decide what you want and do not want
Talk to others
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Questions to Discuss
What do you want and not want at the end of life?
Who should speak for you?
What are your concerns?
What gives your life the most meaning?
What one thing do you want to be sure your doctors, family and friends know about your wishes?
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Talking About Your Decisions
Valuable opportunity to reflect on what’s important with loved ones
Discussion needs to happen before a crisis
Can provide comfort to your loved ones
Is up to YOU to initiate
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Documenting Your Decisions Advance directives document healthcare
decisions at the end of life
Tool to help you think through and communicate your choices
Two legal forms are available:
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Living Will
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Healthcare Power of Attorney Document who makes medical decisions
about your healthcare
Authorized to speak ONLY if you can’t
May also be called a:
"healthcare proxy or agent"
“healthcare surrogate”
"durable power of attorney for healthcare"
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Your Healthcare Agent Can be anyone over the age of 18*
Can be a family member, loved one or close friend
Is someone who:
You trust
Knows you well
Will advocate in your behalf
Will honor your wishes
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Living Will States what you want and do not want for
medical treatments at the end of life
May also be called:
Directive to physicians
Healthcare declaration
Medical directive
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Important to Know
Your advance directive should reflect your wishes
Lawyers are not needed
Not all documents are legally valid in every state
A witness and a notary may be required
Does not expire and can be updated as needed
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April 16 - National Healthcare Decisions Day
Collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations
Opportunity to communicate and document future healthcare decisions
Participating national organizations include: ABA, AMA, ANA, APC, NASW, NHPCO and others
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What You Can DoWhat You Can Do
Talk to your loved ones
“Since today is national healthcare decisions day, I want to take this opportunity to talk with you about my decisions for healthcare if I am ever in a situation that I can not speak for myself
like Terri Schiavo [or list someone else].”
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What You Can DoWhat You Can Do Complete your advance directive
Encourage others to do the same
Join local efforts to promote National Healthcare Decisions Day
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Resources That Can Help www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org
Advance care planning information
Advance directive documents
[List other state and local resources]
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