Make Decisions Today for Your Care Tomorrow
Whether you’re in the prime of your life, or in the throes of a serious illness, having Thoughtful Life Conversations about future medical care is the first step to ensuring your values and personal preferences will be honored.Having these thought-provoking conversations—and then documenting them properly for healthcare providers to access in real-time—helps to ensure your wishes are honored. Additionally, expressing exactly what medical treatments you want, and the ones you don’t want, saves friends and family members from remorse and panic at a very sensitive time.
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Take Control of Your Future
It’s Easier than You Might Think
Thoughtful Life Conversations (TLC) wants you to take control of your life, or more specifically, the medical care you want and don’t want. So many of us are very deliberate in the way we live and have a firm grasp on the things that are meaningful to us. It stands to reason, then, that the same will be true with expressing ourselves and having our wishes honored if we happen to become unable to speak for ourselves
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5 Steps to Having Your healthcare Wishes Honored:
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Think about what matters most in life. Start by thinking about what you want for end-of-life care. This will help you decide on medical care that is right for you.
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Talk about options and wishes with your doctor & loved ones. Now that you’ve thought about the things that matter most to you at the end of your life, it’s time to share your thoughts with your loved ones and your doctors.
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Fill out your healthcare directive documents. It’s important to document your wishes. Anyone over the age of 18 should complete their healthcare directive forms.
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Share your wishes and documents. Make sure loved ones know your wishes and where to find your documents. This will help you get the medical care you want.
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Review and update your documents often. Because situations often change, you should review your documents and update them from time to time. This will help you get the medical care you want when you want it.
Q: What is Advance Care Planning?
A: Advance care planning is making decisions about the healthcare you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself. These are your decisions to make, and the decisions are based on your personal values, preferences and discussions with your loved ones.
—National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization