When we are young, our long-term health is one of the furthest things from our minds. We think we’ll have plenty of time to make potentially uncomfortable decisions as we get older.  But what if the unthinkable happens sooner rather than later and renders you incapable of making those decisions? If you want to be in charge of your life and health no matter what, taking the time to create an Advanced Directive for Health Care NOW is the best decision you can make. 

What is an Advance Directive for Health Care?

An Advance Directive for Health Care is a legal document that provides instructions for medical care and only goes into effect if you cannot make those decisions yourself. For example, if you become critically injured or severely ill to the point that you are in a state of permanent unconsciousness and cannot communicate your own wishes, the Advance Health Care Directive makes sure that your commands are carried out by family, physicians, and health care providers. 

Not making these decisions now means they may be left in the hands of others.

Without an Advance Directive, no one else can be 100% sure what your wishes may be.  Laws where you live will determine who can make medical decisions on your behalf, usually your spouse, parents, or children (if they are adults).  If there are no relations available to make the decisions, a close friend or physician may be assigned by the state. In other words, it could become necessary for someone you have not chosen to make decisions about your health care, or even with your end-of-life process. 

I already have a Living Will and/or have assigned a Medical Power of Attorney; isn’t that enough?

An Advance Directive for Health Care can not only combine the two documents but is designed to be more clearly written and more detailed.  It is also a more flexible document that considers complex situations that may arise if you are incapable of making decisions for yourself or if your quality of life becomes unacceptable.  

Making your Advance Directive for Health Care now ensures the decisions you make are clearly thought out and expressed for your loved ones and your health care providers.

It may seem impossible to consider everything that might happen, but a good process and professional guidance can help you make the right decisions:

• Take time to think about what is important to you.  Based on your personal values and wishes, think through what matters most to you about the end of life and your future care and medical treatment.  This is different for everyone, but what measures should be taken to maintain your dignity and sense of self-determination can only be decided by you.
• Talk with your doctor.  Your physician can provide crucial input about your current health and anticipate any problems that may arise in the future.  They can also provide important information about the types and ramifications of medical treatment options that may be available to you given certain injuries and illnesses. 
• Choose someone you can trust as your health care proxy.  Though it can be a difficult conversation to have with a friend or loved one, it is important to share your feelings and values to ensure you have “the right person” to serve as your proxy when you can’t make those important decisions for yourself.  And it doesn’t have to be a spouse, or even a relative; you can choose anyone, including a lawyer or physician, if you would be more comfortable doing so.
• Follow through with the process. Making the decisions and talking them over with loved ones is not a guarantee that your wishes will be carried out; to ensure that everything is taken care of for the future, it is essential that the process of creating a formal Advance Directive is carried out.  To make sure that the document is “watertight,” it is best to involve expert legal counsel to prevent any question as to the validity of your wishes in any future circumstances.
• Share the form(s) with anyone who will be involved. There is great comfort in making the decisions and formalizing them into the Advance Directive for Health Care document, but everyone who may be involved in the process needs to be informed.  In addition to keeping a copy in your records, you will need to share the form with any and all proxies, with your physicians, local hospitals, and of course, your lawyer. 
• Review and revise as necessary. This last step is one that you will need to repeat on a regular basis, usually once every year or so.  Changes in marital status, changing health issues, and/or changing lifestyles may mean a change in what your intentions are for future health care concerns.  It’s always a good idea to review and revise all of your decisions and documentation for Advance Directives, wills, long-term care, etc., on a regular basis.  And remember, you are still able to make decisions about your health care while you are still able to communicate your decisions; an Advance Directive only becomes effective when you are incapable of clearly expressing your own wishes.

Elder Law of Georgia can help you ensure your wishes for future health care concerns are respected and followed.

Our team is ready to get to work helping you plan for the future and ensure that your wishes for your health and well-being are carried out.  To get started, call Elder Law of Georgia, P.C., today at 678-971-4971 or send us an email to schedule a consultation. We often make home visits to those who cannot visit our office in Gainesville.