Q: What do I need to know about making plans in case I become ill and can no longer make decisions for myself?
A: Advanced care planning, making plans for the “what ifs” of the future, is an important step as an adult and can provide peace of mind. It will most likely feel uncomfortable or worrisome to talk about serious illness, accidents, or end of life plans. However, only by talking and thinking about them ahead of time can you be sure your own wishes are known and followed. It helps you have control over your future even if you become unable to speak for yourself.
One of the main things to think about is who you want to speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself. This can be documented in an advanced healthcare directive. Advance healthcare directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes.
The person you designate to speak for you is called your health care agent. Think carefully about who you chose, because sometimes the closest person to you may not be able to think clearly in a crisis. The emotional attachment may put them in a position they cannot handle. Consider not just who is closest to you, but who you think can really manage what would be needed of them and follow your wishes.
Think through what care you would want and not want. The California Coalition for Compassionate Care has resources to help you understand what is involved with possible medical care choices, and what questions to ask yourself. You can visit their website at https://coalitionccc.org/ .
Once you have thought this through and selected a health care agent, be sure to talk with them and really explain your wishes. Make sure they are comfortable following though on them and be clear and honest with each other. Give them a copy of the document.
Senior Concerns is offering a free online seminar to talk about these issues. It is called “The Legal Reasons to Have Advanced Care Planning Conversations With Your Loved Ones” and will be presented over Zoom on Tuesday, March 12th at 3pm. You can register online at www.seniorconcerns.org/seminars or call 805-407-0189.
The seminar is presented by an elder law attorney, Ken Kossoff, and a medical social worker, Katie Wiltfong. They will explain the legal requirements of California’s Health Care Decisions Law, including the proper execution of your Advance Health Care Directive. They will review the use of form documents (California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, Statutory) vs. custom, attorney drafted health care directives. It will include a discussion of how to ensure your wishes are followed.
They will talk about how to prevent people from interfering with your designated agent’s enforcement of your stated desires to receive or refuse medical care and end of life wishes. They will also address the questions of organ donation: how to become a donor, and how to avoid organ donation if you do not want to be a donor.
Have the difficult conversations now so that if the time comes when serious health care decisions need to be made, your wishes will be known. It is a gift to your loved ones to let them know what you want so that they can feel confident in their role as your advocate.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
