While no one wants to dwell on their inevitable death or serious illness, it is important to give it some forethought, as you won’t have the luxury of hindsight. Then share it with your loved ones and put it in writing. April was Advance Care Planning Month. Massachusetts Department of Public Health appealed to clinicians to ask all adults, regardless of age if they have a health care proxy. If they don’t have one, it’s time to start the conversation.
Do you have a health care proxy? If yes, pat yourself on the back, but still review it yearly. If you don’t, you are not alone. More than 90% of Americans believe it is importance to assign a trusted person in your life as your voice should you be unable to communicate. Sadly, only one third of adults has completed a health care proxy form.
The benefits are two-fold. You will have the peace of mind that your wishes are carried out. Your loved ones will have the tools to make decisions for you and respect your choices. Many resources are available to you, along with your health care provider, to help have these conversations with your family and make decisions. Honoring Choices of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association Simple Step Campaign offers online guidance, forms, videos, multilingual tools, the health care proxy form with instructions and a hand out titled Who is Your Health Care Agent?
The form is fairly simple. Decisions to be made include who will be your health care agent and an alternate agent. Designate their authority including life-sustaining treatment decisions. The option is available to list limits to authority or give specific instructions. The form is then signed and witnessed by two people. Lastly, it is recommended the form be signed by your health care agents to demonstrate acceptance.
A copy of the form should be given to your health care agents, your doctors and care providers as well as scanned into your medical record at your hospital. It’s a good idea to let your family or other loved ones know who your health care agent is ahead of time.
Everyone over 18 years of age should have one. During childhood, your parent or guardian is legally your proxy. If you are sick or injured and don’t have a health care proxy form filled out, the legal system will decide for you.
In choosing your person, know the they may have to make tough, quick decisions on your behalf about treatment, procedures, surgeries and life support. Many people we love may not be good at that. They don’t need to have medical expertise. They need to be able to make decisions that would follow your wishes but maybe not theirs. They need to know you, understand your values and wishes, communicate well and advocate strongly for them with potential adversity from others in your life.
Is it a coincidence that April is Advance Care Planning Month and taxes are due? We must plan for our taxes and be prepared for expected or unexpected illnesses and injuries. Benjamin Franklin famously wrote in a letter, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain but death and taxes.”
Take care of yourself and someone else.
Juanita Carnes is a nurse practitioner with 39 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Board of Health in Westfield, Massachusetts.
