Advance Care Planning: Your Decisions Matter Presented By: Healthy Christian Ministry Abiding Faith Christian Church

Psalm 90:11 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 2

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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? 4

Today 5 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 6

Why Plan Ahead?  Unable to speak for yourself  Sudden illness or accidents  Leave a guide for others  Peace of mind for loved ones 7

Getting Started  Learn about life-sustaining treatments  Reflect upon your values  Decide what you want and do not want  Talk to others 8

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? 9

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 10

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 11

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" 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

What 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.” 17

What You Can Do  Complete your advance directive  Encourage others to do the same  Join local efforts to promote National Healthcare Decisions Day 18

Resources That Can Help   Advance care planning information  Advance directive documents   

The future depends on what we do in the present. –Mahatma Gandhi Psalm 90:11 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 20