Aging in Place

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Advance Care Planning In the event that you are no longer able to make decisions about your health care it is important to have plans in place to ensure that your wishes are considered. If you are just getting started with advance directives, or have questions about how they work, the following resources may be helpful to you: nhdd.org/public - resources and dementia directive.org/ Listed below are three advance care planning documents that are considered highly important to have in place before you have a need. These establish the legal basis for ensuring your wishes for health care decisions are honored in the event you are unable to make those decisions for yourself. While it is important to discuss your wishes with family and trusted advocates, it is even more critical to formalize these wishes via these key documents, and make sure they are accessible to your care team when the need arises. Check below which advance care planning documents you already have in place and are accessible to the appropriate person(s). Note: This is not an exhaustive list of advance care planning documents. Others documents like a Living Will , and/or a Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) may also be appropriate for your circumstances.  Advance Directive ( A written statement detailing your desires regarding medical treatment if you are no longer able to express informed consent .)  Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care ( A document that lets you name someone else to make decisions about your health care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. It gives that person, called an agent, instructions about the kinds of medical treatment you want. ) * may be combined with Advance Directive  Do Not Resuscitate Order ( A DNR is a request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. ) Important: Be sure that you have a durable DNR so that it is transferable across institutions.

Did You Know?

O F PEOPLE SAY IT ’ S IMPORTANT TO PUT THEIR WISHES IN WRITING

82%

H AVE DONE IT . yet only...

23%

37

Aging in Place: Your Home, Your Community, Your Choice

Health & Wellness