National Healthcare Decisions Day: Why Kendallville Seniors Should Plan Ahead
In northeastern Indiana, you'll find Kendallville, a peaceful and close-knit community. It's the natural place to consider retirement-and healthcare planning.
Did you know that 60% of adults currently don't have healthcare directives, which outline their wishes if they become incapacitated? This figure underscores the importance of National Healthcare Decisions Day-a day to raise awareness about the importance of communicating your medical preferences.
In this guide, we'll explain to you what's involved in planning your future healthcare, why it matters, and how to speak to your family about it.
National Healthcare Decisions Day
National Healthcare Decisions Day occurs on April 16th each year. It is an initiative aimed at improving awareness amongst the public on the importance of making informed decisions about your healthcare.
It encourages seniors in Kendallville, IN, to formally document their wishes and preferences about their healthcare. It's a backup if they ever find themselves in a position where they can't communicate those decisions to doctors directly, such as if someone were to fall into a coma or develop severe dementia.
It means choosing who will speak for you and what decisions they'll make about your care and medical treatment. Doing so eases the burden on loved ones if they find themselves in a position where medical teams ask for a critical decision on care.
Advance Care Planning: Why It Matters
If you or a loved one are entering their senior years, advance care planning must be on your priority list. It's tempting to ignore these sorts of plans if you are in excellent health, as a crisis never looks like it's going to be around the corner.
However, in aging adults, health situations can change rapidly, which is why you must get organized and have a clear plan in advance.
This might be a conversation about the type of treatment you prefer or a discussion with the family to choose a name for someone to speak on your behalf. All this is vital for ensuring your personal values and beliefs are respected at every stage of your healthcare as you age.
Senior Healthcare Planning: Living Will Vs. Healthcare Proxy
Advance directives are the term for all the legal documents seniors can put in place outlining their healthcare wishes. These documents only become active when a person can't speak for themselves. Common types of documents in Kendallville, IN, include:
- A living will
- Durable Power of Attorney
- DNR (do not resuscitate) order
- POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
A living will outlines what treatment you do and don't want for end-of-life, such as resuscitation and ventilators. A POLST is similar to a living will but goes one step further as it is a doctor-signed form, so it's usually a document created when someone already has a diagnosed medical condition.
A durable power of attorney document nominates a named person (a healthcare proxy) to make decisions on your behalf. For seniors in Kendallville, these advance directives help set out your plans for medical emergencies long before you need them.
Choosing the Right Person to Be Your Healthcare Proxy
When you write a durable power of attorney, you will need to name the person who will make decisions on your behalf - also known as a healthcare proxy. It's a difficult task for many people, as some may feel uncomfortable about making medical decisions. That's why you need to take your time to choose the right person.
A trusted person is a given, and it is likely to be a close relative, though some may prefer a close friend.
Talk to your loved ones about your wishes and be open about why you are creating a durable power of attorney. Use this time to listen to any reservations. That way, you can avoid nominating someone who may feel unable to make those decisions when the time comes, either for practical reasons or because they feel emotionally unable to do so.
Estate Planning for Aging Adults: Tips for Making the Right Healthcare Decisions
For some people, future medical decisions will be straightforward, and they'll have a clear idea from the outset about what they want.
However, that's not always the case. You might feel uncertain about some of the decisions you are making. In those circumstances, talking to others is vital.
Start with friends and family, and be open about any concerns you have about treatment. It's also crucial to speak to a medical professional. They can give you a better understanding of what some treatments entail and the pros and cons, helping you make a more informed decision.
Communicating Your Healthcare Plan to a Senior Living Community
Perhaps you are in a senior living community in Kendallville, IN, or considering moving to one. If so, make sure the team is aware of your advance directives. Do that before you first move into the community as part of your personal care plan.
It's helpful for staff to know your wishes and who they should speak to if you need your healthcare proxy. It also means you have a team to keep the paperwork organized and safe for you.
In our senior living community, staff are experienced in handling these conversations and ensuring wishes are respected and held on file.
When to Review Your Healthcare Plans
Healthcare plans and advance directives may not be documents you need to consult daily.
Nevertheless, don't hide them away for all eternity since your needs and wishes may change. Your health circumstances might alter, too. So keep these documents handy and review them at regular intervals with your healthcare proxy.
Ideally, you should do this once a year, though you might want to review them more frequently if you have a serious illness.
Planning Your Future Healthcare
National Healthcare Decisions Day is the perfect chance to get your future healthcare wishes documented. You never know when you might need it.
Chandler Place Assisted Living is here to help. At our senior living community in Kendallville, IN, we offer individual care plans for all our residents, so you can rest assured your decisions and needs will be honored by our experienced and caring team.
If you are considering moving into assisted living in Kendallville, IN, with home-style dining and a family atmosphere, schedule a tour to explore the fantastic amenities on offer at Chandler Place.