1. Advance Directives and End-of-Life Issues  This presentation is intended as a template  Modify and/or delete slides as appropriate for your organization and community  Delete this slide before use  To view speaker notes and edit presentation, click 'Edit‘, then 'Edit slides '

2. Advance Directives and End-of-Life Decisions (Add presenter name, organization’s name and contact information here)

3. Purpose  Discuss advance directives and end-of-life care decisions  Learn the different types of advance directives  Recognize advantages and disadvantages of advance directives  Identify resources that can help you complete your advance directives

4. Do you have a written plan stating what health care treatments you would or would not want if you could not speak for yourself?

5. Why Bother?

6. Why You Need Advance Directives  Your wishes will be known  Only used if you are unable to express your decisions  This can happen to anyone – at any age  Give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind – write down your wishes!

7. Interesting to note…  Most Americans – 88 percent – feel comfortable discussing issues relating to death and dying*  Yet only 42% have a living will* *National Survey on Death, Dying, and Hospice Care in America, VITAS Innovative Healthcare, 2004

8.  A written statement of your wishes, preferences and choices regarding end-of-life health care decisions  A tool to help you think through and communicate your choices What are Advance Directives?

9. Advance Directives  Written instructions about future medical care  Only used:  If you are seriously ill or injured, and  Unable to speak for yourself  Should include:  Living will  Medical (health care) power of attorney

10. What is a Living Will?  A legal document with your wishes about medical treatment  You choose:  What you do want  What you don’t want

11. What is a Medical Power of Attorney?  A legal form that states who you want to make decisions about medical care  The person is authorized to speak for you ONLY if you are unable to make your own medical decisions  May also be called:  "health care proxy or agent"  “health care surrogate”  "durable power of attorney for health care"

12. Advance Directives: Advantages  You are in charge of making your own decisions  Documents can be changed anytime  You DO NOT need an attorney  Documents can help you express your wishes  Individual forms are available to download for FREE at www.caringinfo.org

13. Advance Directives: Disadvantages  Advance Directives (AD) may not be available when needed  Not readily available in patient charts  Living wills:  may not be specific enough  may be overridden by a treating MD  does not immediately translate into MD order

14. Medical Terms for End-of-Life Care Decision Making  Life-Sustaining Treatment  Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (tube feeding)  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)  Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNR)  Palliative Care  Hospice

15. Resources in Our Community  List your local resources here

16. www.caringinfo.org 800.658.8898

17. FREE Resources Available from Caring Connections  State-specific advance directives  Advance care planning Web resources  Brochures to download or order:  Advance Directives and End-of-Life Decisions  Health Care Agents: Appointing One & Being One  Conversations Before the Crisis  You Have Filled Out Your Advance Directive… Now What?  Ask Tough Questions

18. It’s About How You LIVE! Learn about your options, choices and decisions Implement your advance directive plans Voice your decisions Engage others to complete their advance directives