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Even though it’s difficult, end-of-life discussions are important.
WHAT IS ADVANCE CARE PLANNING 01
Advance Care Planning isn’t done in a day – but every little bit makes a big difference.
WHERE TO START 02
There are many resources available to help you create an advance directive. Let us show you a few.
RESOURCES 03
Why Advance Care Planning is crucial.
Decisions about end-of-life care are deeply personal. It’s impossible to foresee every type of circumstance or illness, but it is essential to think in general about what is important to you. Conversations that focus on your choices will keep loved ones and healthcare providers from guessing what you want to happen. Advance Care Planning is often based on your personal values and preferences, which set the stage for meaningful discussions with your loved ones.
Advance Care Planning includes:
- Sharing your personal values with your loved ones
- Evaluating life-sustaining treatments that are available
- Deciding what types of treatment you would or would not want if you are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness
- Putting your decisions, known as “advance directives,” into writing and identifying what types of treatment you would or would not want
- Using your advance directives to identify who you chose to speak for you – should you be unable to speak for yourself
Advance Care Planning is not just about old age. A medical crisis could happen at any age leaving you too ill to make your own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now, you should plan for your health care in the future. Your decisions ensure your values and wishes are honored and can shift some of the burden off of your family and friends.
Are you new to Advance Care Planning?
The Conversation Project is a great place to start. They understand that talking matters. Their tool, known as the “Starter Kit,” is offered in 14 different languages and helps you identify what is important to you and how you want to live at the end of your life.
Ready to prepare your advance directives?
There are several professional organizations that can help you. For example, the Nebraska Emergency Treatment Orders (NETO) website offers fillable forms to create your own Treatment Declaration and Power of Attorney for Healthcare free of charge. NETO can also address your questions about these documents more in-depth.
Another source for creating advance directives is Five Wishes. It has the ability to help create a legal document that guides you through Advance Care Planning. For $5, you can choose between a printable document and an online form.
Storing Your Advance Directive
Where you store your advance directives is important. When choosing a storage place, remember your advance directives must be:
- Portable; they must be available wherever you are
- Accessible at a moment’s notice
- Kept safe; protected from theft, fire, flood or other natural disasters
Here are some suggestions:
- Keep the original documents in a secure yet easily accessible place; be sure your Power of Attorney knows where the original is kept
- Share a copy of your advance directive with anyone who might be involved in your healthcare such as your family, Power of Attorney, physician, local hospital, clergy, or friends.
I have a healthcare directive not because I have a serious illness, but because I have a family.
Dr. Ira Byock, Author of Dying Well
RESOURCES 03
You have lots of help at your fingertips.
The following links may also be helpful in your journey to find answers about Advance Care Planning:
The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org/
Five Wishes: https://fivewishes.org/
National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization “Caring Info”: http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
Nebraska Emergency Treatment Orders: https://www.nebraskahealthnetwork.com/nebraska-emergency-treatment-order-neto/
Nebraska Hospice & Palliative Care Association: https://www.nehospice.org/page/A1
Respecting Choices: https://respectingchoices.org/