Advance Health Care Planning

Advanced Health Care Planning

We plan years ahead for retirement. We plan months ahead for vacations. We plan for college educations. But, we do not plan well for our own health care, most often leaving decisions up to weary family members.

Taking more personal responsibility for your own health care requires shifting from a reactive mindset to a proactive approach, with the idea of creating a flexible health care road map for handling any changes in your health. An advanced health care plan goes beyond a single health care directive, such as a “do not resuscitate” order, and moves into a more comprehensive plan of action that can grow and change along with your condition.

National Health Care Decision Day is April 16. Register to attend an upcoming event about health care planning:

Understand Your Condition
Creating an effective plan requires knowledge about the disease or condition and its natural progression, consideration of cultural and religious beliefs, individual preferences and comprehensive communication with family members and your physician. Typically, the most difficult part of the planning process is having an open, honest discussion with family members. Avoiding this discussion is understandable, since fear and anxiety can make thoughtful conversation difficult, if not nearly impossible.

We should not leave important decisions about our health care to those who know us the least and who may be acting at the last minute or during a time of crisis. Advanced health care planning gives patients and families peace of mind and can help families avoid regret-laden behavior, which can accompany a protracted illness and eventual death.

Make Your Desires Known
Be prepared to discuss your personal preference for health care with your physician(s). Having this type of discussion improves the patient–physician relationship and assists the physician in providing specific care according to your wishes. You should also appoint a health care proxy to act on your behalf in case you become unable to do so yourself. If you are unable to speak for yourself, and have not appointed a spokesperson, your doctor and health care team will turn to one or more of your family members or friends. It is best to put your wishes in writing; however, you can change your mind at any time during the course of your care.

The most appropriate decision-maker is the one with a close, caring relationship with you — someone who is aware of your values and beliefs and is willing and able to make needed decisions.