Studies indicate that most Americans have not executed documents that name a health care decision maker or a living will declaration to express their wishes for their end-of-life care.
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This is certainly preferred to engaging in an emotional debate over what the loved one may or may not want, if they are unable to make their wishes known.
– Advance care planning begins with the first of many conversations that enable individuals to tell their providers, families and trusted others what really matters to them, and enable providers to help patients understand the medical conditions they may experience. These groups will educate Americans to let them know that they have the right to make decisions about their health care in the event they can not speak for themselves or are incapacitated and can not make those decisions. This number should not be so low. Even if you are not ill now, planning for your healthcare for the future will ensure that you get the medical care you would want, Dr.Yeshwant explained.
As part of this system-wide initiative, AllSpire is launching YourLifeYourWishes.com, a new website devoted to providing the tools and resources individuals and families need to plan and share their health care wishes with the people who will be acting on their behalf.
They congratulate those who have completed advance care planning. For more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day, please visit, NHDD.org.
Bierbach explained the importance of an advance care directive.
Health care decisions can be complicated.
Bierbach said volunteers will be on hand to assist visitors one-on-one, and will have all the forms necessary to complete an advance care directive.
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Dr. Vivian Argento is executive director, Geriatrics and Palliative Care Service at Bridgeport Hospital/NEMG; Dr. Donna Coletti is medical director, Greenwich Hospital Palliative Care Service; Dr. Kristin Edwards is medical director of palliative care at Bridgeport Hospital; and Dr. Jennifer Kapo is chief of Palliative Care Service at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
