The 2016 theme of the National Healthcare Decisions Day is, “It Always Seems Too Early, Until It’s Too Late.” This annual event reminds us to prioritize health care decision making. We need to make our own health care decisions, for ourselves and for those who love us.
While it’s a good start, creating advance care planning documents like living wills doesn’t ensure your end of life wishes are followed. You have to have a dialogue with the people you want making decisions on your behalf! It may not be easy but don’t wait until it is too late.
There are several valuable resources to help start the conversation. Here are just a few:
- Book – Being Mortal by Atul Gawande is about caring for those nearing the end of their life
- Short film – ‘Being Mortal’ is a PBS video exploring the relationships doctors have with patients who are nearing the end of life
- YouTube video – ‘Before I Go‘ is about a Stanford neurosurgeon’s parting wisdom about life and time
- Web sites – National Health Care Decisions Day and American Cancer Society to answer your questions
- Decision Making Guides –
- American Society of Clinical Oncologists – Advanced Cancer Care Planning
- AARP – Beginning the Conversation about the End of Life
- Center for Practical Bioethics – Caring Conversations Workbook
- American Bar Association – Toolkit for Healthcare Advance Planning
- Card game – Go Wish Cards – yes, a card game to stimulate conversation on values and wishes about end-of-life care
Seeking additional resources? Let INALA be your guide. You deserve a credible source for ensuring your end of life wishes are followed. Contact us today at exdir@INAssistedLiving.org or 317-733-2390.